On May 19 the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) meeting was held in Brussels (Belgium) where Chief of Defence of Lithuania Major General Jonas Vytautas Žukas and other Chiefs of Defence of the European Union discussed EU military operations, military capacity building and other relvenat issues.
The meeting focussed on the preparedness of the European Union to provide an adequate and timely response to emerging threats of hybrid and cyber warfare, illegal migration, and other. Other issues discussed were enhancement of European defence capabilities and cooperation with NATO and with partner countries. The Chiefs of Defence reviewed results of the ongoing EU military missions and looked into the possibility to increase European contribution to the regions hit by crises.
Discussion on the Ukraine crisis was a major highlight. The Ukrainian Chief of Defence presented to the meeting security situation in his country focusing on the anti-terrorist operation in the eastern part of Ukraine and lessons learned while countering hybrid threats. In its turn the EU Military Committee expressed support to Ukraine and discussed perspectives of extending such support.
"I support the Ukrainian Armed Forces and I believe the European Union should use all the instruments it has to solve this armed conflict: to look into establishing an EU military mission for observing the implementation of the Minsk agreement in Ukraine, to extend the mandate of the EU Advisory Mission by adding the area of defence sector reforms, to deepen European-Ukrainian military-technical cooperation, and to assist Ukraine in developing new capabilities, such cyber security or for elimination of hybrid threats," Lithuanian Chief of Defence said at the meeting.
The Chiefs of Defence also addressed preparations for the European Council in Warsaw late this June where changes in the security situation in the European neighbourhood, the review of the European Security Strategy, and other relevant issues will be addressed.
The meeting also appointed the new Director General of the European Union Military Staff, the position will be filled by Major General Esa Pulkkinen from Finland as of next autumn.
The session of the EU Military Committee meeting concerning the EU military operations and missions was conducted with participation of the Chiefs of Defence of non-EU countries contributing their capabilities to the EU military operations and missions (i.e. Georgia, Canada, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro, Switzerland). That is a demonstration of how seriously the European Union takes its partners and their contributions.
The European Union Military Committee is the senior EU military body formed by the EU Chiefs of Defence. Established in 2001, it directs all military activities of the European Union. The EU Military Committee also provides advice to the Political and Security Committee (PSC) in charge of shaping the Common Foreign and Security Policy on the ways the European Union could meet global security and defence challenges.
The EU Chiefs of Defence gather in Brussels to take part in the EU Military Committee meetings twice a year.
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There are 11 civilian and 5 military ongoing EU missions and operations involving participation from 15 non-EU countries. Lithuania takes part in to EU operations: EUTM Mali (European Union Training Mission in Mali) and EU-NAVFOR-ATALANTA (European Union Naval Force Somalia).
Instructors of the Lithuanian Armed Forces deployed to EUTM Mali since 2013 are training military forces of Mali as part of the Nordic-Baltic Training Unit formed with partners of Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Estonia. Currently, three Lithuanian soldiers are serving in Mali: two are assigned to the Training Unit and the third one serves at the EUTM Mali HQ.
Lithuania is also contributing to EU-NAVFOR-ATALANTA, counter-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean, since 2011. Lithuania posted two officers to the operation, one to the operational headquarters (Northwood, UK), and another to the command ship of the operation. Lithuania will deploy two Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachments, both 16-strong, to take turns to carry our 4-month duty protecting a designated ship in the Indian Ocean, and 2 logistics specialists of the Lithuanian Armed Forces per each 4 months for service with Lithuania's National Support Element in Djibouti, as of this August.
A Force Protection Platoon formed by military personnel of the Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, and individual soldiers of the headquarters and support unit (44 in total) are on standby for the first semester of this year for the Swedish-led Nordic EU Battlegroup (EU NBG).
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Captain Mindaugas Neimontas
Office phone no. 00370 5 278 5091, cell phone no. 00370 682 25359, email: mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
