FINABEL - European Army Co-operation
An acronym unknown to most, Finabel denotes a nearly 60-year-old organisation that aims to increase interoperable operating of its European member states’ land forces with no political strings attached.
Founded in 1953 as a part of the Western European Union, Finabel remains an independent organisation. An acronym, Finabel is derived from the initials of its five founding member states including France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg. At present, the organisation counts 25 member states.
With the establishment of the Finnish Army as its own service back in 2008, it became topical to look for European land armament co-operation. Finland’s membership in the European Union and the apolitical nature of Finabel provided the grounds for Finland’s joining the Finabel family in 2008.
Key products of FINABEL
Including guidelines, regulation collections and studies relating to land forces, key products of Finabel combine its nation states’ viewpoint to practical army-level measures. For the purpose of drafting guidelines, the organisation is headed by a steering and decision-making body of the annual meeting of member state land force commanders. Topics in-progress are worked on by assigned expert task groups (ETG).
The work topics are submitted as proposals by member states. Usually, an ETG works on a single topic that can remain under development for up to a year. Standing representatives of the ETGs contribute their own state’s expertise to the work as applicable. The end-product is a high-quality printed guideline or handbook. Fielding of the end-product is at the discretion of each member state. Applicable manuals and guidelines are fielded in Finland in line with the standard principles for approving guidelines.
What does Finland get from its Finabel membership?
Finabel produces high-quality guidelines and manuals for the purposes of the Army. Continuous co-ordination is conducted throughout the production of manuals with the European Defence Agency (EDA), European Union Military Staff (EUMS), and NATO. At Finabel, the results provide concrete and practical Army value. Additionally, they are produced on a swift schedule.
Common procedures and experiences accrued by others minimise the potential for mistakes and increase European land forces’ interoperability on crisis management missions, among other.
Meetings of Army key leadership provide, in addition to the official programme, the opportunity for informal exchange of information and ideas concerning land force development. Finabel aims to include all European Union member states – it is, after all, the only Army co-operation organisation in the framework of the European Union.
For more information on Finabel, please go to www.finabel.org
