By: UKOM
On 25 and 26 October 2021, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces Major General Robert Glavaš, attended a meeting of the EU Military Committee at EU CHOD’s level in Brussels
The meeting was chaired by General Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the EU Military Committee. On the sidelines of the meeting, a reception marking the 20th anniversary of the EUMC was organised, which was attended by all former chairmen.
The EU Military Committee discussed a number of topical military issues. On the first day, Chiefs of Defence discussed key military topics in the developing Strategic Compass and future steps of providing military expertise in its coordination and design. They discussed the EU’s rapid response tools to enable the EU a more effective military intervention in future crises. They concluded by reviewing the military operations taking place as part of military activities in support of the EU’s Common European Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
On the second day of the meeting, the CHODs focused on the strengthening of EU-NATO cooperation, and on climate change and its implications for security and future military activities. This is also the focus of Slovenia’s presidency of the EU Council in the military field. Additionally, they discussed the recently established military training mission in Mozambique and closed by concentrating on changes in the functioning of EU military training missions (EUTM).
In the discussion on the Strategic Compass, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces Major General Robert Glavaš, emphasized the expectation that this discussion should also provide clear direction regarding the military level of the EU’s ambitions. In the debate on the EU’s rapid response tools, he expressed support for their further development and emphasized that it would be wise to build on the existing mechanisms, structures and initiatives. He highlighted regional integration, flexibility, improved standards and joint organisation of military exercises.
On the sidelines of the Military Committee meeting, Major General Robert Glavaš also met with Chief of the Cypriot National Guard Lieutenant General Dimokritis Zervakis to discuss the possibilities of establishing bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of training and exercises.
The EU Military Committee provides military advice and recommendations on all EU-related military matters to the EU Political and Security Committee. It meets regularly at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels in EU military representative-sessions and usually, twice a year in Chiefs of Defence sessions. Once during the presidency of each Member State, the EUMC holds a meeting in the EU Member State holding the Presidency. Slovenia, as the country currently holding the Presidency of the EU Council, hosted the EUMC meeting at the end of September.
Source: gov.si