European Union Military Committee
Encyclopedia
The European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is a department of military officials under the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
and the Political and Security Committee
(PSC) of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy
. The EUMC gives military advice to the PSC and the High Representative. It also oversees the European Union Military Staff
.
The EUMC was formally established in December 2000 by the Nice European Council, and is one of several defence and security-related bodies established as a result of the Helsinki Headline Goal
, which was decided in December 1999. EUMC is composed of the Chiefs of Defence
of the EU Member States who are represented on a regular basis by their permanent military representatives in Brussels
, who often are two- or three-star flag officers. A similar Military Committee also exists within NATO, and those countries which are members of both EU and NATO have in most cases chosen to use the same person as permanent military representative to both organisations.
The EUMC is chaired by a General Officer, Admiral
, or Air Officer
of four-star level (i.e. NATO OF-9 equivalent) who is selected by Chiefs of Defence and appointed by the Council of the European Union
. For a term of three years the Chairman is the spokesperson for the EUMC, he participates in PSC meetings as appropriate, and attends Council meetings with defence and security implications. The current chairman is general Håkan Syrén
, who was appointed for a term lasting until November 6, 2012.
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is the main co-ordinator and representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy within the European Union...
and the Political and Security Committee
Political and Security Committee
The Political and Security Committee, PSC is a permanent body within the European Union dealing with Common Foreign and Security Policy issues, including Common Security and Defence Policy.PSC, which is based in Brussels, consists of ambassadorial level representatives from the...
(PSC) of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy
Common Foreign and Security Policy
The Common Foreign and Security Policy is the organised, agreed foreign policy of the European Union for mainly security and defence diplomacy and actions. CFSP deals only with a specific part of the EU's external relations, which domains include mainly Trade and Commercial Policy and other areas...
. The EUMC gives military advice to the PSC and the High Representative. It also oversees the European Union Military Staff
European Union Military Staff
The European Union Military Staff is a department of the European Union , responsible for supervising operations within the realm of the Common Security and Defence Policy...
.
The EUMC was formally established in December 2000 by the Nice European Council, and is one of several defence and security-related bodies established as a result of the Helsinki Headline Goal
Helsinki Headline Goal
The Helsinki Headline Goal was a military capability target set for 2003 during the December 1999 Helsinki European Council meeting with the aim of developing a future European Rapid Reaction Force...
, which was decided in December 1999. EUMC is composed of the Chiefs of Defence
Chief of Defence
The Chief of Defence is the highest ranked commissioned officer of a nation's armed forces. The term CHOD is in common use within NATO and the European Union as a generic term for the highest national military position within the NATO and EU member states, rather than the actual term used for...
of the EU Member States who are represented on a regular basis by their permanent military representatives in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, who often are two- or three-star flag officers. A similar Military Committee also exists within NATO, and those countries which are members of both EU and NATO have in most cases chosen to use the same person as permanent military representative to both organisations.
The EUMC is chaired by a General Officer, Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
, or Air Officer
Air Officer
An air officer is a Royal Air Force officer of the rank of air commodore or higher. Such officers may be termed "officers of air rank". The term is also used by many Commonwealth nations who have a similar rank structure to the RAF....
of four-star level (i.e. NATO OF-9 equivalent) who is selected by Chiefs of Defence and appointed by the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
. For a term of three years the Chairman is the spokesperson for the EUMC, he participates in PSC meetings as appropriate, and attends Council meetings with defence and security implications. The current chairman is general Håkan Syrén
Håkan Syrén
General Håkan Erik Gunnar Syrén is a General of the Swedish Amphibious Corps and chairman of the European Union Military Committee...
, who was appointed for a term lasting until November 6, 2012.
List of Chairmen of EUMC
- 2001-2004: General Gustav HägglundGustav HägglundJohan Edvin Birger Gustav Hägglund is a retired Finnish general. He was the Chief of Defence 1994—2001, and Chairman of the European Union Military Committee 2001–2004....
, FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... - 2004-2006: General Rolando Mosca MoschiniRolando Mosca MoschiniRolando Mosca Moschini, born March 9, 1939 in Umbria is an Italian army general. Mosca Moschini was commissioned as an officer in 1959, and initially served with artillery units of the Italian army...
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... - 2006-2009: General Henri BentégeatHenri BentégeatHenri Bentégeat is a French Army general who served as the chairman of the European Union Military Committee between 2006 and 2009 .- Biography :...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... - 2009-2012: General Håkan SyrénHåkan SyrénGeneral Håkan Erik Gunnar Syrén is a General of the Swedish Amphibious Corps and chairman of the European Union Military Committee...
, SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
See also
- Franco-British Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty and Downing Street Declaration
- European Security and Defence PolicyEuropean Security and Defence PolicyThe Common Security and Defence Policy , formerly known as the European Security and Defence Policy , is a major element of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union and is the domain of EU policy covering defence and military aspects...
- Military of the European UnionMilitary of the European UnionThe military of the European Union today comprises the several national armed forces of the Union's 27 member states, as the policy area of defence has remained primarily the domain of nation states...
- Council of the European UnionCouncil of the European UnionThe Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...