Ο Ευρωπαϊκός Οργανισμός EUROMIL αναγνωρίζει το δίκαιο αίτημα της ΠΟΜΕΝΣ που αφορά στις στρατιωτικές ταυτότητες και προωθεί την πρόταση της στον Επίτροπο Μετανάστευσης, Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων και Ιθαγένειας της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης κ. Δημήτριο Αβραμόπουλο. Συγκεκριμένα ζητά να εξασφαλιστεί ότι το στρατιωτικό προσωπικό της Ελλάδας απολαμβάνει πλήρως τα δικαιώματα του σύμφωνα με τις Ευρωπαϊκές οδηγίες περί δικαιωμάτων των ευρωπαίων πολιτών και δεν αντιμετωπίζεται ως δεύτερης κατηγορίας.
Ο EUROMIL αναδεικνύει το αίτημα της ΠΟΜΕΝΣ, σύμφωνα με το οποίο το στρατιωτικό προσωπικό πρέπει να λαμβάνει στρατιωτικό δελτίο ταυτότητας, αλλά ταυτόχρονα να διατηρεί και πολιτική ταυτότητα. Οι περισσότερες χώρες της ΕΕ χρησιμοποιούν στρατιωτικά δελτία ταυτότητας για τις υπηρεσίες, χωρίς αυτό να αντικαθιστά όμως την πολιτική ταυτότητα. Τέλος υπενθυμίζει ότι κάθε στρατιωτικός έχει τα ίδια δικαιώματα και υποχρεώσεις όπως κάθε άλλος πολίτης και οι ταυτότητες είναι η πρώτη απόδειξη αυτών των δικαιωμάτων.
To Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship
Dear Commissioner,
This letter concerns military identity cards in Greece.
The European Organization of Military Associations and Trade Unions (EUROMIL) is an umbrella organization composed of 34 military associations and trade unions from 22 countries. It is the main Europe-wide forum for cooperation among professional military associations on issues of common concern. EUROMIL strives to secure and advance the human rights, fundamental freedoms and socio-professional interests of military personnel of all ranks in Europe.
EUROMIL has been informed by one of its Greek member associations, namely the Panhellenic Federation of Armed Forces Unions (P.FE.AR.F.U.), of the established regulation concerning identity cards for Greek citizens and more specifically the article on military IDs. The article foresees that members of the armed forces give their identity cards to the police for destruction and receive a military ID card in return. This means that Greek citizens employed by the armed forces have a different identity card than their fellow citizens which does not grant them the same rights. Indeed, military ID cards are not recognized as a travel document and do not allow Greek military personnel to freely travel in Europe. Additionally, they do not meet the common EU security standards which are currently under discussion at EU level. Greece has agreed to gradually replace all ID cards, but this does not concern military ID cards which are under the competence of the Minister of Defence.
P.FE.AR.F.U. has complained to the Greek Ombudsman concerning this issue. Nevertheless, in parallel EUROMIL would like to draw your attention, in your capacity as Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, on the issue. Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States particularly foresees in Art. 4, that “3. Member States shall, acting
in accordance with their laws, issue to their own nationals, and renew, an identity card or passport stating their nationality. 4. The passport shall be valid at least for all Member States and for countries through which the holder must pass when travelling between Member States. (…)”. In this case the ID card provided to military personnel is not recognized in EU countries as a travel document. In order to travel to these countries, military personnel, unlike their fellow citizens, thus have to buy a passport.
EUROMIL thus calls on you, Commissioner, to investigate in this matter and ensure that Greek military personnel fully enjoy their freedom of movement and are not treated as second-class citizens.
EUROMIL supports P.FE.AR.F.U.’s demand that military personnel receive a military identity card but at the same time keep their regular national identity card. Most EU countries use military ID cards for service requirements, but never to replace a regular national ID card or passport. EUROMIL recalls that a soldier is a “Citizen in Uniform” and is therefore entitled to the same rights and obligations as any other citizen. Identification documents are the first proof of this citizenship.
I thank you in advance for your kind consideration of this letter and look forward to hearing from you soon.
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