European Security in Focus: Gaminger Initiative Europe Unites the European Reserve in Viterbo
High level gathering in Italy highlights the critical role of reserve forces in building European defense capabilities and strategic depth.
VITERBO, ITALY (May 22, 2026) Delegates from 11 of the 13 member nations of the Gaminger Initiative Europe (GIE) are convening in Viterbo this week for their spring meeting. As global security challenges multiply, military representatives and experts are focusing on the strategic realignment, interoperability, and future readiness of European reserve forces. The guiding theme for the event is “European Defense: A new frontier for the reserves.”
The Italian Reserve Officers Association (UNUCI) is hosting the congress while celebrating its own 100th anniversary. Commander Giuseppe “Pino” Imbalzano spearheaded the organization of the event, ensuring seamless coordination for the international guests. The meetings are taking place in close cooperation with the Italian Army Aviation Training Center, a unit currently marking its 75th year of service.
Strategic Integration with NATO and CIOR
For the first time, the future leaders of the two other most prominent international reserve organizations are jointly attending a GIE congress. Major General Fulvio Poli, the incoming Chairman of the NATO Narional Reserve Force Committee (NRFC) for the 2026 to 2028 term, and Lieutenant Colonel Lars Bak, the next President of the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR), joined the delegates in Viterbo.
Addressing the assembly, Major General Poli emphasized a shift in modern defense thinking. “The reserve is no longer merely a backup. It is the absolute cornerstone of our strategic depth and resilience,” he noted. “The Gaminger Initiative Europe plays an indispensable role in fostering the interoperability and shared understanding we need across our continent. As the incoming Chairman of the NRFC, I strongly support your mission and will ensure that the voices and capabilities of this vital network are integrated into our broader NATO strategies.”
Lieutenant Colonel Lars Bak reinforced this message of unity. He pointed to the existing Memorandum of Understanding between CIOR and the Gaminger Initiative, stressing that translating this agreement into practical, everyday cooperation is essential for a robust European defense posture.
”Our security environment demands ready, interoperable forces and a reserve that complements them,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Alenka Kovač, First Vice President of the GIE. “In this room, each of us possesses extensive experience in defense and security. It is our responsibility to pass this knowledge on to our younger generations so that our society can build upon what has been achieved.”
Honoring Tradition and Aviation History
The official visit to the Italian Army Aviation Training Center provided a practical look at modern military integration. The unit Commander welcomed the delegates and provided briefings on flight training, fleet modernization, and future concepts like manned and unmanned teaming.
The delegation then toured the Army Aviation Museum to view the 75 year history of the branch, spanning from early light observation aircraft to the historic military helicopter landing on Mount Everest. Following the tour, the international delegates held a wreath laying ceremony to honor fallen aviators and soldiers.
Central Focus Areas of the 2026 GIE Conference:
Building Strategic Depth: Working sessions highlighted that modern warfare requires a reassessment of the reserve. This means moving beyond traditional age and physical fitness limits to embrace specialized capabilities in cyber defense, artificial intelligence, and drone technology.
Technological Integration: Delegates used the expertise of the Army Aviation Training Center to study how cutting edge technology integrates into modern combat and training scenarios.
Generational Transition and Knowledge Transfer: The group worked on concrete guidelines to ensure young European citizens are actively brought into the fold of social and security responsibility.
The Viterbo congress confirms the Gaminger Initiative Europe as a key driver of regional security cooperation. The discussions held this week lay the groundwork for an adaptable European security architecture where the reserve stands as a fundamental pillar.
About the Gaminger Initiative Europe (GIE):
The Gaminger Initiative Europe is a coalition of 13 national reserve officer associations from Central and Eastern Europe. Growing from initial fireside talks in the Austrian town of Gaming over 30 years ago, the platform is dedicated to preserving honorable military traditions, fostering international information exchange, and strengthening national and European defense readiness and collective security.
About UNUCI:
The Unione Nazionale Ufficiali in Congedo d’Italia is the national representation of Italian reserve officers. Since its founding 100 years ago, it has promoted military culture, civil military cooperation, and prominently represented Italy in international security and defense forums.
Meeting took place on October 15th – 18th, 2014 in Slovakia.
Autumn meeting of the Gaminger Initiative Europe Brno, Czech Republic, October 24-27, 2024
Europe needs to be stronger and safer, was the main theme and message of the autumn meeting of the Gaminger Initiative Europe (GIE). The GIE meeting was successful and confirmed its importance as an important platform for cooperation and exchange of views between Member States. A new threemember GIE Presidency for the period 2024 to 2026 has been confirmed. Slovakia will host the next GIE meeting in the spring, and Slovenia in autumn 2025. The GIE brings together national associations of reserve officers from 13 European countries and has since 2004 focused mainly on issues related to European security policy and the armed forces. The regular autumn meeting of the GIE, which took place from 24th to 27th of October 2024 in Brno, Czech Republic, was attended by representatives of 11 Member States: Albania, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Germany and Switzerland (North Macedonia and Poland were absent). Opening of the meeting On behalf of the organizers, the participants of the meeting were addressed by Prof. Pavel Bílek, President of the Atlantic Council of the Czech Republic, and Colonel Miroslav Tlamicha, Czech National Representative in the GIE and Co-President of the GIE, Cdr. Giuseppe Filippo Imbalzano (Italy). The host of the autumn meeting of the GIE was the University of Defence in Brno. The Vice-Rector of the University, Petr Hlavizna, informed the participants about the rich history of this military higher education institution of the Czech Armed Forces, which dates to 1899, when it operated as the Czech Institute of Technology. The Defense University was established in 2004 and serves as a center for education, learning, research, and training of military professionals. The participants of the conference took the special opportunity to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of the new students at the university, which took place on the first day of the meeting, October 25th in the morning.
Find the full report here:
Meeting was held in Karlovac/Croatia in 2024
Petrovska opened the meeting of the GAMINGER initiative: reserve officers are an integral part of the security system and a promoter of the Euro-Atlantic values
(On May 25, 2023)
This morning, the Minister of Defence Slavjanka Petrovska opened the spring meeting of the Central European Initiative of Reserve Officers, whose full-fledged member is the Organization of Reserve Officers of North Macedonia.
At the opening, the minister emphasized the importance of the positions and considerations of the reserve officers, taking into account the security challenges of the continent.
“The reality of our continent, the cradle of human civilization, is facing a conventional war, something that was unimaginable just over a year ago. It is this new security reality that requires all of us, the actors in the security sphere, to be clear in condemning the military aggression of one country against another independent and sovereign country, to be loud in the call to end human suffering and the need for reason to prevail”, said Petrovska.
Europe, free, safe and at peace, said the minister, is the only solution that is acceptable and therefore all of us, through these or similar formats, must openly discuss that in the 21st century there is no place for military actions on the old continent.
Regarding the organization of reserve officers, she said that the organization has been a key segment of the security of every country.
“The organization of reserve officers is an example of modern action and a promoter of Euro-Atlantic values and the modern understanding of their role in society. The fact that this Organization is developing and closely cooperating with the associations of reserve officers from Europe is proof of the place and role of this Organization in our Macedonian society”, said the minister.
The president of the Organization of Reserve Officers, Goce Goergiev, and the president of GAMINGER, Lt. Col. Philip Leo, in his opening remarks emphasized the importance of this Initiative within the European framework and the need for an open discussion about all security issues on the continent.
Links
www.reservistenverband.de/magazin-die-reserve/gaminger-initiative-30-jahre-zu-gast-bei-kameraden/