EU Military Committee Meets at the level of Chiefs of Defence in Brussels

Accordingly, the chiefs of defence discussed the EU’s new military level of ambition, the related guidelines for capability development, the command and control (C2) structure of military operations and missions, the EU rapid reaction force capability, and the financing of defence-related tasks.

In their contributions, the chiefs of defence emphasized the need for progress in the above areas. In general, they made it clear that the new level of ambition must enhance the credibility of the EU and must be closely connected with capability development. The foregoing must be implemented in harmony with NATO’s set of tasks, by avoiding unnecessary duplications between the two organizations. At present, 22 member states are members of both alliances, and each member state has only one military, therefore the EU and NATO cannot require disparate capabilities.

During the discussion, special significance was attached to the question of how to increase the effectiveness of command and control of operations and missions. The participants pointed out that in this field too, they reject the idea of setting up an EU command in Brussels for this purpose, as they see the only possibility of development within the framework of the European External Action Service (EEAS), on the basis of the EU Military Staff (EUMS).

The participants of the meeting of the Military Committee agreed that the prime examples of the EU military rapid reaction capability are the EU Battlegroups, and that the present funding environment is significantly hindering their deployment. In this field, the chiefs of defence see the possibility of progress basically in using the EU budget to finance military operations and missions.

During the discussion, strengthening the majority position on behalf of Hungary, Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő welcomed the German–French–Italian–Spanish initiative for the implementation of the plan and called it an adequate starting point, supported the complementary importance of the future roles involving the EU and NATO, and the efforts to increase the effectiveness of the command and control systems of missions with non-executive mandates. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring the deployability of EU defence capabilities for border protection purposes, beyond their role in managing crisis situations outside the external borders of the EU. The Hungarian chief of defence reasserted that the credible use of EU Battlegroups – these possible future embodiments of the rapid reaction capability – must be helped by involvement in the ATHENA mechanism in the interest of joint funding.

At the meeting, the agenda highlights included the discussion of current and future-oriented issues in the EU–NATO cooperation, whose main directions are set out in the EU Global Strategy and the EU–NATO joint declaration adopted in July 2016.

As the second item on the agenda of the EUMC meeting, the chiefs of defence were given a comprehensive briefing on the military-professional issues of the military operation EUNAVFOR MED/OP SOPHIA that aims to disrupt the business model of illegal human smugglers, and stem the wave of migrants flowing into Europe from North Africa, mostly from Libya on the Mediterranean Sea. The briefing placed emphasis on the training of the Libyan coast guard and the implementation of new tasks designed to prevent arms trafficking.

In addition, further briefings addressed the current status of the naval operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and the African training missions (EUTM Mali, EUTM Somalia, EUTM Central African Republic). The reports from the commanders and the reactions of the chiefs of defence unanimously recognized and acclaimed the positive effects of these missions on security both at the concrete spots and for the whole of Europe. At the same time, the participants of the discussion also expressed the general opinion that it is necessary to explore the possibilities for increasing effectiveness in the fields of coordination, command and control systems and support (funding, force generation).

The Hungarian Chief of Defence reasserted the commitment of our country and the Hungarian Defence Forces to the efforts the EU and NATO are devoting to create stability in the Western Balkans. He pointed out that in view of the factors endangering the security situation – among them, the threats posed by illegal migration – it remains essential that Operation EUFOR ALTHEA continue to keep its executive mandate in the future for maintaining regional security.

A special feature of the meeting was a dedicated session, in which an invited guest, Commander in Chief of Myanmar Gen. Min Aung Hlaing briefed the chiefs of defence for the first time about the progress towards democracy in his country, its military aspects and the possibilities and prospects of developing relations and cooperation between the political parties and the armed forces.

On the margins of the meeting, the chiefs of defence of the Visegrád Four (V4) countries signed a letter of intent on their joining the V4 EU Battlegroup in the second half of 2019.

Photo: General Staff