Budapest, 15 October 2024
(published 18 October 2024)
On the occasion of the Hungarian presidency of the EU, the European Union Military Committee meeting at Chiefs of Defence (CHOD’s) level was held in Budapest, Hungary, from 14 to 16 October.
Chiefs of Defence of 27 EU member states and four Western Balkan countries assembled to shape the future of Europe’s defence together, ensuring freedom, security and prosperity for its citizens.
EUMC meetings are held twice a year at CHOD’s level, to discuss the current security environment and provide the best possible Military Advice, making EU an even stronger and more capable security provider for its member states.
The EUMC directs all military activities within the EU framework, in particular the planning and execution of military missions and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The EU must be ready to comprehensively manage any crises, protecting its citizens and assisting its partners based on their needs.
The EU’s highest ranking military officials had the following topics on the agenda:
- EU Naval Operations at the North Western Indian Ocean,
- Meeting the EU Level of Ambition by mitigating the capability shortfalls,
- EU Rapid Deployable Capacity (EU RDC) achieving full operational capability,
- Support to Ukraine: further coordination of training and support to Ukrainian Armed Force’s (UAF’s) and
- Western Balkans: participation of Western Balkan Countries in CSDP initiatives.
A lot has been achieved since the last CHOD’s meeting in May. This year we successfully launched the EU’s first ever Naval operation in a non-permissive environment. Namely the EUNAVFOR Aspides in the Red Sea. In the North-Western Indian Ocean, we have two naval military operations with overlapping areas of responsibility: the EUNAVFOR Aspides and Atalanta. Both providing and enhancing maritime security to safeguard the freedom of movement on the international waters.
Recent security challenges require capable militaries, comprehensive force development and a coherent mix of cutting-edge and standard capabilities. Balancing appropriately the quality, quantity and sustainability dimensions across all operational domains and for all types of operations. Therefore, the EUMC supports cooperation to be more effective and efficient, especially long-term critical strategic capabilities, aiming to reduce cost duplication and to achieve economies of scale in weapons and ammunition production.
The EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC) is close to achieving full operational capability. The EU RDC’s purpose will be to respond rapidly to imminent crises in different operational scenarios. As s a credible joint force package, the EU RDC reflects the EU commitment towards an ever-greater level of EU military autonomy providing peace, safety and security for the citizen. It is supposed to be fully operational by 2025, allowing the short-notice deployment of up to 5.000 soldiers, including for very demanding scenarios.
EU Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM UA), alongside the European Peace Facility assistance measures, has enhanced UA ability to contain Russian aggression, defend itself, strengthen and regenerate its armed forces and protect its population. It has trained more than Ukrainian 60.000 soldiers so far. Europe’s engagement is constantly adapted in close coordination with NATO to meet UAF’s needs.
The Western Balkans is a region of geostrategic relevance for the EU. Therefore, the cooperation with the countries of the area is utmost importance. Enhancing partnerships through bilateral/multilateral agreements, EU military initiatives on military education, training, as well as CSDP missions will improve military interoperability. To maintain the Western Balkans’ strategic alignment with shared values, the EUMC is aiming to strengthen security and defence cooperation with the region. The strategic objective is to support the Western Balkan countries to tackle their domestic security challenges and to support them on their integration into the EU.
On 16 October, the Generals attended a distinguished visitor’s day of the BRAVE WARRIOR 2024 – EU Military exercise to witness a complex joint tactical level exercise involving military units and capabilities of the participating EU member states, modelling the military evacuation of EU civilian personnel from an unsafe, politically destabilized area on foreign lands outside EU soil. The execution of the operation based on the scenario is the result of the participating EU members states joint efforts.
As result of the meeting, the conclusions of the talks are summarized to set the directions and provide the most comprehensive military perspective on current challenges to support the EU decision making ensuring to make EU a stronger and more capable security provider for its member states.
Source – EU Council