The world is changing, and multilateral, rules-based cooperation is increasingly under pressure. International Humanitarian Law is repeatedly disregarded, while drones and autonomous systems pose serious risks to Human Security, with consequences on civilians and military personnel alike. In today’s conflicts, populations are caught in the crossfire and often face significant danger. The protection of civilians must be more than a buzzword — it is a necessity.
In order to support the development and practical application of Human Security principles, Eurocorps, a force for the European Union and NATO, hosted its annual Human Security Seminar (HSS) for the first time this year in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Over the course of two days in November 2025, more than 100 participants from Eurocorps, the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as academia came together to explore ways to turn Human Security principles into concrete action.
The Eurocorps Human Security Seminar opened with speeches by Fabienne Keller of the Bureau of the European Parliament, Alain Berset, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, and the Commander of Eurocorps, Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz.
David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, delivered remarks highlighting the relevance of Human Security from the Parliament’s perspective. In summary: The protection of civilian lives and democratic security should be core elements in the development of European defense concepts and capacities.
Alexander Grif from the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) and Sergio Da Silva from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) shared insights on Human Security in Ukraine and Gaza. The respective conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan clearly demonstrate that Human Security is a mission-critical factor in any effective response.
Speakers from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the College of Europe, and the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) discussed how the European Union and its agencies implement Human Security principles into concepts, planning and operations.
HSS 2025: A Seminar Focused on Identifying Practical Solutions
To understand how the military can meaningfully contribute to Human Security, it is essential to examine how the protection of civilians can be placed at the center of military operations, and how cooperation with international, governmental, and non-governmental organizations on humanitarian issues can be strengthened.
Finding the right approaches is crucial to ensuring the legitimacy of military actions, and reinforces the credibility of NATO and the European Union. Failure in this area would put both military personnel and civilian populations at risk.
While NATO has defined Human Security and translated it into operational and strategic guidelines, further adaptation is needed to respond to evolving battlefield realities. Presentations from NATO, UNOCHA, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps offered valuable insights and examples of best practices in integrating Human Security into military efforts.
Key questions were addressed in working group sessions: How can Human Security be more effectively integrated into commanders’ decision-making processes? How can civil-military cooperation be adapted to the demands of multi-domain operations? What are the implications of autonomous weapons, artificial intelligence, and drones for Human Security in conflict and crisis settings? Participants tackled these questions by developing practical considerations and actionable recommendations.
In his closing remarks at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Eurocorps Chief of Staff, Major General Zenon Brzuszko, captured a central theme: ‘Human security is a multi-actor, whole-of-society task – meet each other before you need each other’. A fitting motto for the latest edition of the Human Security Seminar.
