Chiefs of Defence Discuss Battle Group to Be Declared to the European Union

At the start of the DECI meeting – in saying goodbye to the executive personnel of Exercise Clever Ferret 2014 – the Chief of the Defence Staff presented Brig.-Gen. Ignazio Gamba with a medal awarded by Minister of Defence Csaba Hende. The commander of the Multinational Land Force (MLF) was awarded the “Alliance" medal for his outstanding performance during tasks executed in cooperation with the Hungarian Defence Forces.

The main topic at the meeting of DECI – which aims at promoting closer military cooperation among countries situated in the environment of the Adriatic Sea – was the formation of an EU DECI Battle Group to be drawn from the Italian–Hungarian–Slovenian MLF. The DECI countries now include Croatia and Austria besides Italy, Slovenia and Hungary, and this enlargement provides another opportunity for close cooperation and further expansion of the scope of military relations.

The chiefs of defence agreed that the joint battle group, to be set up by five nations and declared to the European Union, would operate as a stand-by force by the first half of 2017. In order to accelerate the planning process, Gen. Benkő proposed that Hungary would organize an expert-level DECI working meeting for the participating nations in this autumn. A main issue on the agenda of this autumn meeting would be the drawing up of a capability catalogue for the battle group to be drawn from the MLF, to make sure that the battle group will reach full operational capability (FOC) by the end of 2016.

Italy proposed that its partners should consider whether the DECI countries could cooperate and participate in the role of the Julia Mountain Brigade declared to Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan, which is to start in 2015.

The Chiefs of Defence also agreed that they carry on with and seize the opportunities which had been set out as the goals of DECI on its establishment. Thus, the key objectives of cooperation continue to include the conduct of joint training and exercises and the mutual use of each other’s educational opportunities. At the Maribor meeting, the partners signed a joint declaration to confirm their intention.

The participants of the meeting agreed that more emphasis should be given to joint capability development in the future, and that the regional approach should be adoptec in certain fields of cooperation.

By an Italian proposal, it would be worth considering the extension of DECI to further countries of the region. The invitation of Serbia is such an option to be considered.

At the end of the meeting, Croatian Chief of Defence Drago Lovric proposed that Croatia would organize the DECI meeting at chiefs of defence level in 2015.

On Friday, July 4 – the third day of his visit to Slovenia – Gen. Tibor Benkő met with President of Slovenia Borut Pahor and held bilateral discussions with Slovenian Chief of Defence Dobran Bozic about current issues in the Hungarian–Slovenian military relations.

Photo: SSgt. Massaro Giouse and Cpl. Beáta Csehiné Sárkány