Military Committee of the European Union (EUMC)

The Military Committee of the European Union (EUMC) is the supreme military body within the Council of the EU. It is the forum for military consultation and cooperation between the EU Member States in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management. This Decision established the mandate of the EUMC.

ACT

Council Decision 2001/79/CFSP of 22 January 2001 setting up the Military Committee of the European Union

SUMMARY

The Military Committee of the European Union (EUMC) is the highest military body within the Council of the EU.

Composition of the Military Committee

The EUMC is composed of the Chiefs of Defence (CHOD), represented by their military representatives (Milreps). It may meet at CHOD or Milrep level.

The Chairman of the Committee, who must be a four-star flag officer, is appointed by the Council on the recommendation of the Chiefs of Defence and has a term of office of three years, unless the Council decides otherwise. The Chairman represents the EUMC at the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and the Council, and chairs the EUMC meetings at Milrep and CHOD levels.

The mission and functions of the Military Committee

The EUMC is the forum for military consultation and cooperation between the EU Member States in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management. It provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on military matters. Military advice is taken on the basis of consensus.

The EUMC can give advice and recommendations on:

• the overall concept of crisis management in its military aspects;
• military aspects relating to political control and to the strategic direction of operations;
• the risk assessment of potential crises;
• the military dimension and implications of a crisis situation;
• the elaboration, assessment and review of objectives;
• the financial estimation for operations and exercises;
• military relations with applicant countries, third countries and international organisations.

In a crisis situation, the EUMC exercises military direction and gives military instructions to the European Union Military Staff (EUMS). More specifically, it:

• issues, at the PSC's request, an initiating directive to the Director-General of the EUMS (DGEUMS) to draw up and present strategic military options;
• evaluates the strategic military options developed by the EUMS and forwards them to the PSC, together with its evaluation and military advice;
• authorises, on the basis of the military option selected by the Council, an initial planning directive for the operation commander;
• provides advice and recommendations to the PSC, based upon the EUMS evaluation, on the operation concept and draft operation plan (OPLAN) drawn up by the operation commander;
• gives advice to the PSC on the termination option for an operation.

The EUMC monitors the proper execution of military operations currently being conducted under the responsibility of the operation commander.

Background

At its meeting on 10-11 December 1999 in Helsinki, the European Council approved the establishment of new permanent political and military bodies, such as the MCEU, within the Council of the EU.

last update 29.10.2006