Security & Defence European

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Mobilising safety and efficiency: www.mercedes-benz.com/defence-vehicles Editorial The Focus Must Be on What Is Fundamental to the EU Bleak forecasts about the future of the talked down. As the tip of the iceberg, it European Union are nothing new. They is the most serious crisis the EU has had were there right from the very first to overcome since the Treaties of Rome. moment. A temporary highlight came in Previously unquestioned certainties are 2005 when the citizens of France and the shaken. Is the gradual transition from a Netherlands – contrary to all expectations community of states into a federal state – rejected the ratification of a European really reasonable, feasible and are there constitution in a referendum, whereupon no other alternatives? What happens some commentators already stated the if the majority of citizens in various EU’s demise was on the horizon. They member states no longer want it and vote were wrong. The EU decided – and this accordingly in their parliamentary elections? was not meant ironically – to take a Should their vote be simply respected or “period of reflection“. Two years later – at should an attempt be made to convince the end of this phase – came the Lisbon them that they made a mistake? Or treaty which did (almost) everything the should one look for new ways of elegantly constitution was to do in a somewhat excluding them from joint decision-making more complicated form. The consent of the powers? – such incredible things can be Dutch and the French to this agreement heard in the democratic community of was no longer needed, and a change to values that is Europe, as they obviously fail the constitution was even made in Paris to grasp what the era needs. in order not to have to go down the The following question can be answered referendum path again. The Irish were far more simply with a far larger not given this opportunity, yet after the consensus: what is really fundamental to slip-up in the first referendum, Dublin the EU? In answering this, one encounters was also able to accept the ratification the achievements in earlier decades of with a second vote. Unquestionably, this European integration which have become ratification process had not been beneficial so self-evident that many citizens can to the EU’s credibility in attempting to no longer see them– starting with a finally put to bed the common accusation peaceful reconciliation of interests on a that it lacked democracy. continent shattered by war in the first half As the global financial crisis broke out over of the last century, to the convenience the continent just after Lisbon, which was of the internal market from which every followed by the Euro crisis, more Cassandra individual and company benefits on a calls became louder. But once again, the EU day-to-day basis. And one also comes did not break down under the weight of up against policy areas, where some these new problems. On the contrary. We work is still needed (and nobody would may not have come through the crisis even blame “Brussels” for arbitrarily claiming though it has taken something of a back competences) – from an easier way seat in public consciousness. Nevertheless, for citizens and companies to enforce the EU has shown (to use a new buzzword) their rights in other member states to a “resilience” during this crisis. harmonisation of defence policy. The call Dark prognoses which stubbornly refuse for the EU to limit itself to that which can to come true ought at some point to only be regulated on a European level become obsolete. However, this is not and leave everything else to the member the case. Scepticism about whether the states is nothing new. The principle of path the EU has chosen is the right one, subsidiarity has been invoked again or is even achievable, has grown across and again over the past few decades. Europe. In some countries, it has been Upon taking office, Jean-Claude Juncker possible to mobilise votes sufficiently to get declared that the EU must concentrate representation in parliament or even enter on “big issues“. In a new “period of government. In Great Britain, these votes, reflection“ which would be appropriate even if “Brussels” had nothing to do with after the Brexit vote, they would do well some issues, led to the Brexit vote. to follow these words with deeds. Great Britain‘s pending exit – whenever it may happen – can neither be sat out nor Peter Bossdorf February 2017 · European Security & Defence 1 In Memoriam of Professor Peter Tamm faring history the Senate of Hamburg appointed him to Hon- orary Professor in 2002. “Hamburg has lost an institution”, Hamburg’s First Mayor Olaf Scholz said in his address. “As a manager and collector he has always been someone who could stay on course, even if he had to sail close to the wind.” Peter Tamm’s first impressive career ended 25 years ago. Far more than two decades, from 1968 to 1991, he had been a member of the top management of the Publishing Group Axel Springer, mostly as the single Chairman of the Board. During that time he could quadruple the turnover of the publishing group, from 860 million German Mark to finally 3.5 billion German Mark, as Springer’s current Chairman Mathias Döpfner recalled. “We have owed very much to Photo: Michael Zapf him until this very day”, Döpfner said. Though following Professor Peter Tamm, publisher and founder of the Interna- a comprehensive approach he had never lost his view for tional Maritime Museum Hamburg, passed away at the age detail. “But he has not only generated physical values, he of 88 in the presence of his family on 29 December 2016. has also left us intellectual values. ” His funeral was honoured by many distinguished guests Peter Tamm‘s career as a manager started at the age of 20 and celebrities. with the newly founded “Hamburger Abendblatt” newspa- Peter Tamm was a publishing house manager, a passionate per in 1948. The war had just been over for three years, and collector and an “institution” of the German City and State of Peter Tamm had had to face the dread of war; he was con- Hamburg. His long and successful life expired shortly before scripted by the Navy when he was 17. He did his short military the turn of the years. In order to pay their last respect to the service aboard the “Gorch Fock” sail training ship. He started museum founder and patron members of his family, friends, as a freelance journalist, primarily to finance his study in Eco- colleagues and companions attended a memorial cermony nomics. Instead, he became an editor for seafaring matters with the former chief reverend of Hamburg’s “Michel” at the and met publisher Axel Springer, a fateful encounter which Nienstedten Church on Hamburg’s Elbchaussee, among them made him change for the publishing business. publisher Friede Springer, Mathias Döpfner, the Chairman of In 1958 he was appointed as managing director of the Ber- the Board of the Springer Group, and the First Mayor of Ham- lin-based publishing house Ullstein – which had just been burg, Olaf Scholz. Peter Tamm had peacefully passed away in adopted by Springer – and helped leveraging the “Berliner the evening of 29 December in the presence of his family. He Morgenpost” and “BZ” newspapers. Based in Hamburg he leaves behind his wife, five children and eight grandchildren. was the Publisher of the “Bild” newspaper and Deputy Pub- Peter Tamm was a descendent of one of Hamburg’s oldest lisher of “Bild am Sonntag”, the newspaper’s Sunday edition, seafaring families, his ancestors were captains on the “Wap- between 1962 and 1964, following which he was appointed pen von Hamburg” (Crest of Hamburg). He was cradled Chairman of the Management of the publishing house Axel with his passion for seafaring and the maritime domain, Springer in Berlin, and in 1968 he became the Chairman of and he preserved and cultivated that spirit throughout his the Board and later single Chairman of Axel Springer AG and entire life. Later, he became an unmitigated Hanseatic citi- remained in this position until 1991, even after the death of zen, both in terms of his character and as a businessman. Axel Springer. “Straightforward”, “persistent” are the terms used by all Under the aegis of Peter Tamm the company grew to be- who knew him. It is no coincidence that his nickname was come the largest European publisher of newspapers. “Op- “Admiral”. But also “humane” and “generous”, an example portunities are there for everybody, but everybody has to take for many of his contemporaries. advantage of them individually” was the life motto of the Peter Tamm occupied many appointments in business associa- determined and assertive manager.

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