Winners – Cidan

European Award for Citizenship Security and Defence

Winners 2024

The jury met on Monday, October 07, 2024 at the André Maginot National Federation in Paris.

The ceremony took place on Monday 18 November, at the Embassy of ESTONIA, during the pre-event reception of the Berlin Security Conference, a major event in the World

The European Prize ‘Citizenship, Security and Defence’ has been awarded to the ‘WW2 Escape Lines Memorial Society’

This Society, known as ELMS, was originally forged during a series of fundraising challenges undertaken by Roger Stanton and a group of fellow ex-military volunteers, to assist the RAFES [Royal Air Forces Escaping Society] increase their funds to support the ‘helpers’ who had aided RAF crews, and others, ‘on the run’ in Europe to return to England. The challenges drew the attention and co-operation of many other former WW2 organisations, both in the UK and Europe. Initially this informal grouping of like-minds became ‘The Escape Lines Reunion’ which, in 2002, developed into ELMS, a voluntary membership organisation encompassing helpers, escapers, evaders, their families, researchers and supporters of many nationalities:

For their multiple and various activities: annual commemorative events, reunions, walking trails [escape line routes], thrice yearly Journals, lectures, research, website [both dissemination of Information and research queries], collaboration with other organizations, establishment of 3 memorials and a museum display, production of Education Packs for schools, and facilitating UK and EU students and military cadets to participate in commemorative trails and commemorative events in both UK and Europe.

photo CiDAN

The Prize for “outstanding achievements in promoting the European Security and Defence” to Mrs Claude-France Arnould;

Minister Plenipotentiary hors classe, Ambassador of France to the Kingdom of Belgium (2015-2019), Diplomatic Advisor to the French Government at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (2019-2020) for :

a career in the French administrations and European Institutions dedicated to European Security and Defence,
her outstanding work as Chief Executive of the EDA (2011-2015), which has helped to strengthen cooperation and solidarity within the EU in the field of defence and to improve common defence capabilities;
her help to many young diplomats and civil servants to develop and grow their careers.

photo CIDAN

The Prize for “European values” to Mr Gérard Cardonne;

“Reporter Sans Frontières”, freelance journalist and author of multiple books, all having in the centre of interest human beings striving for freedom and justice in societies , where individuals are respected regardless their gender and origine, extremely engaged in humanitarian aid, organising events to collect money for building education facilities and health posts in countries under development.

photo CIDAN

A Special Commendation to EuroDéfense JOVEM Portugal;

Which, based in Lisbon, is a vibrant organisation that unites young people passionate about European security and defense. As the youth wing of EuroDefense-Portugal, its members strive to inspire future leaders by promoting dialogue, critical thinking, and collaboration on key issues affecting Europe’s future. Their mission is to involve young people in discussions on Europe’s security and defense challenges and opportunities. Through debates, conferences, and events across Portugal, they offer a platform for individuals from diverse academic backgrounds to engage and be heard.

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A Special Commendation to the EPIS Thinktank;

EPIS Thinktank is a young international (in 20 countries) think tank for foreign affairs and security policy. As an organization, they offer students the opportunity to engage in European security policy. The think tank operates in this area in two ways: as a network and as a publisher. EPIS Thinktank is a young and rapidly growing organisation in European foreign and security policy, which has grown from 16 to 160 members, starting with a single magazine and now editing 100 publications annually.

photo CIDAN

Each Winner has received a trophy, a medal from the “Monnaie de Paris”, offered by the President of the French Republic and a diploma.

Winners 2023

The jury met on Monday, October 16, 2023 at the André Maginot National Federation in Paris

The ceremony took place on Tuesday 28 November, at the Emlbassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, during the pre-event reception of the Berlin Security Conference, a major event in the World

The European Prize “Citizenship, Security and Defence” is awarded to the “les Jeunes IHEDN”;

An Association which, through their European Committee, promotes reflection and facilitates the understanding of Security and Defence issues in Europe. Through various formats (conferences, round tables, visits, podcasts, publications, etc.), the association deals with multiple topics related to institutional, industrial, military and energy policies, among others.

The Prize for remembrance and reconciliation is awarded to the “Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.”;

This humanitarian organisation which, in addition to its official mission of recording, maintaining and caring for the graves of German war casualties abroad , maintains a link between civilians and the military, and encourages young people to come together to learn at the last resting places of war casualties. It includes in particular youth exchanges and work camps, participation in youth meetings and educational centres in Germany, France, Belgium and The Netherlands; PEACE LINE study trips, teaching in schools and colleges.

The Special Jury Prize is awarded to Mr R, Uwe Proll , Co-founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Behörden Spiegel, for his dedication throughout his whole career, to European Security and Defense issues, founding and maintaining the Berlin Security Conference since 2001, which is one of the largest European security and defence policy events.

Winners 2022

The jury, which met on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at the André Maginot National Federation in Paris, awarded the following awards:

The European Prize “Citizenship, Security and Defence” is awarded to the European Defence Network,

which brings together students and young professionals from different European countries, working on defence and security issues, with the aim of fostering knowledge of the institutions, as well as a European awareness, contributing to the development of a European defence.

photo Behoerden Spiegel/Trenkel

The Prize for European Values is awarded to Dr Hans-Gert Pöttering,

who has held leading positions, in particular that of President of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009, and who has published widely on European issues, for his total commitment to the European construction, as well as to the defence and security of the European Union.

photo Behoerden Spiegel/Trenkel

Prize for Citizenship to the Norwegian Life Boat Society,

For the Professionalization of training and education of the Norwegian volunteer lifeboat crews. A new, structured, progressive, and comprehensive teaching and education program for Norwegian volunteer lifeboat crews has reduced the risk from serious accidents and improved organizational confidence and capability. This has directly benefited those 4200 individuals assisted and rescued by them each year,

photo Behoerden Spiegel/Trenkel

Prize for remembrance and reconciliation to Mr Hervé Altmeyer,

who has worked with energy and dedication for the Franco-German reconciliation, in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für historische Uniformkunde, mainly through ceremonies and activities in period uniforms.

photo Behoerden Spiegel/Trenkel

Winners 2020

The European Award, “Citizenship, Security and Defence” for the non-profit Organisation POST BELLUM (Czech Republic);

For the whole range of its activities, since 2001, aimed at recording memories, evidence and personal experience of the main historical events of the 20th Century, putting emphasis on life under totalitarian regimes. Using new methods to make history more appealing, POST BELLUM has contributed to the recovery and social cohesion of European society.

Mr Robert Walter, President of the European Security and Defence Association presents the award to

Mr. Martin Žáček, Political Section, Czech Embassy

photo Behoerden Spiegel BSC 2021

Special Award for “Peace and Security in Europe” to the non-governmental organisation LACHEN HELFEN e.V. (Germany);

For the whole range of its humanitarian action, since 1996, by soldiers and members of the police force taking part in external operations, adding to their normal activities by helping children living in conflict and crisis areas, and more especially for the building of a school in Mali – the first of its kind.

photo Behoerden Spiegel BSC 2021

Special Award for “Remembrance and Reconciliation” to the charity “Western Front Way” (United Kingdom), “Le Sentier du Front de l’Ouest” (France), “De Western Front Way” (Belgium), “Der Westfront-Weg” (Germany);

For the project, launched in 2015, to mark a Garden Way in “No Man’s Land” along the WWI Front Line – an idea suggested in a letter written by a young Scottish soldier just before his death in 1915 – from Nieuport on the Belgian coast to Pfetterhouse in the southern Vosges, a distance of 1000km including some 700 municipalities. In March 2020 the Belgian section was complete with plaques in place and gardens planted in France. People may choose whether to walk or ride the route by bicycle along this “Via Sacra” conceived as a Way of Peace, Remembrance, Reflection and Reconciliation.

photo Behoerden Spiegel BSC 2021

Special Awards by the Jury:

Brigadier general (ret) Reimar Scherz (Germany),

For his attachment to Europe, its Defence and Security, to the idea that a strong Europe may be built only with the support of its citizens, and for his help in ensuring that the presentation ceremony for the “European Award for Citizenship, Security and Defence” takes place during the annual Berlin Security Conference, an exceptional setting for discussion of political, social, military, economic, and industrial questions.

photo Behoerden Spiegel BSC 2021

Mr Laurent Borzillo (France),

For his thesis on European bi- and multi-national expeditionary forces, rewarded by the Universities of Montpellier and Montreal, for his seminars organised for French and German students since 2013 and for the seminars run by the Forum for Defence and Strategy.

Mrs Claude-France Arnould, Senior Advisor on European matters of the French Institute of international relations (Ifri),

presents the award to brigadier general (2s) François Chauvancy, for Mr laurent Borzillo

Photo Behoerden Spiegel BSC 2021

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Winners 2019

The jury of the European Award for “Citizenship , Security and Defence” met on October 1, 2019, in Paris, Federation André Maginot, Boulevard Saint Germain. The award ceremony took place on 26 November during the Berlin Security Conference

European Award for ” Citizenship Security and Defence »

The Fondazione De Gasperi (Roma, Italy), for the project “freedom is not free”. The aim of this project is to involve the younger generations in thinking about strategic issues such as geopolitics, defence and security, and to prepare them, underlining their sense of belonging to Europe, to take, in the future, responsibilities within the European Union.

photo Klaus Dombrowsky

Special Award ” Awareness of Security and Defence »

The Faculty of Political Science and Sociology of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) which, as part of the inter-university platform known as the Euro-Mediterranean University Institute (EMUI), teaches the EuroMed Master’s degree “The European Union and the Mediterranean.” The aim of the master’s degree is to train sociologists, social workers anthropologists, political scientists, psychologists, journalists, economists, lawyers and Arabic speakers, in working for a better integration between Europe, the South and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

photo Klaus Dombrowsky

Special Award “Remembrance”

The Albert Schweitzer International Centre, located next to the German military cemetery in Niederbronn-les-Bains (Alsace/France). This centre welcomes groups of young people for several days, in providing them with an educational support dedicated to themes related to history, remembrance and citizenship. Like three other centres in Europe, located on places of remembrance (Lommel in Belgium, Ysselsteyn in the Netherlands and Usedom in Germany), it is run by the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V, a humanitarian organisation, in charge, by the Federal Republic of Germany, of identifying, preserving and maintaining the graves of German war victims.

photo Klaus Dombrowsky

Jury Special Award

The editorial team of the four-monthly magazine “The European – Security and Defence Union”, for the quality of its articles and interviews, which have enabled European citizens to better understand the Defence and Security issues and policies, and have shown them the impact these policies can have on their daily lives.

photo Klaus Dombrowsky

Winners 2018

The jury of the European Award for Citizenship, Security and Defence met on 30 October 2018 in Paris, Fédération Maginot, 24 bis Boulevard Saint Germain. The 2018 winners are:

The European Award for Citizenship, Security and Defence to : Association des Réservistes de la Région Occitanie du Service de Santé des Armées A.R.R.O.S.S.A. (comité Niel), Association des Officiers de Réserve de Haute Garonne (Comité Européen de Défense) and Maison de l’Europe des Pyrénées ;

For all the activities relating to :« the European answer to new threats», but more particularly for the efforts made by a network of European reservists, for the exchanges with counterparts in Germany, Spain and Belgium, for the support given to the wounded of the armed forces, lastly for the transfer of experience from the war medicine to the civilian emergency units facing terrorist attacks