The award
The Benoît Royal Award was established to recognise outstanding contributions to the field of defence and military ethics. The award
- emphasises the vital role of ethics across all areas of defence, from military operations to the defence industry, and
- recognises inspiring initiatives and the work of dedicated individuals.
- It will also help to raise European public awareness, promote ethical standards and a culture of integrity within the international defence community.
Named in honour of French Brigadier General (retired) Benoît Royal, Euro-ISME’s first president and a pioneering voice in ethical military practice, the award will celebrate those whose contributions uphold the highest principles of ethical responsibility in defence. General Royal, author of L’éthique du soldat français (Economica, 2014), played a key role in advancing research, education, and training on military ethics within the European defence community.
The award was launched at the 2025 Euro-ISME Annual Conference, which took place at the Army War and Leadership College in Madrid on 21-23 May 2025.
Sponsorship
Sponsored by C&V Defence, the award reflects a shared commitment to advancing ethical standards across the European defence community and honouring those who demonstrate exemplary leadership in this critical domain.
Nominations
Nominations will be invited to recognise European individuals or organisations who have shown exceptional courage, taken bold steps to promote military ethics, or made a lasting impact in ethical defence practices.
Nominations will be open until November 15th, 2025. Following assessment by a jury composed of the Euro-ISME Board and C&V Defence senior leadership, the nominee will be awarded in Brussels early in 2026.
Regulations