OHQ calls FHQ. European militias in action

November 19, 2013September 11, 2023 Nicolas Gros Verheyde

The military are working to improve crisis management — Coordination is the key to this joint exercise between European and national soldiers, who want to show that they are ready to intervene (Credit: EEAS)

(BRUSSELS2) The annual European Union military exercise (MILEX 13) is coming to an end soon (22 November). Led by General Wolfgang Wosolsobe, the European Union Chief of Staff (EUMS), this exercise highlights a new crisis management scenario. The focus is on the military planning process necessary for the deployment of a European battlegroup (no troops are deployed for this exercise because it is essentially a General Staff exercise). But Milex 2013 also includes a dimension of humanitarian assistance and the deployment of civilian experts.

Test the OpsCenter

The exercise is primarily an opportunity to test the EU Operations Center (OpsCenter) located within the European Union Headquarters in Brussels which serves as OHQ under the direction of Greek General Alkiviadis Stefanis . 70 people take part in the simulation. Half come from the Military Staff, the other half from the Member States. The Force HQ (FHQ) is located in France at Mont-Valérien (in Suresnes, near Paris), under the direction of French General Daniel Grammatico. “The interaction between the operational HQ in Brussels and the Force HQ in Mont Valérien is important” explains General Wolfgang Wosolsobe. “We want to test our new procedures and operational systems. » The Europeans have thus installed a new command and control information system (C2) but also new equipment, brought to Mont Valérien to have a “testing in real conditions”.

Humanitarian, UN and satellites

Liaison with the International Red Cross and with the United Nations, which are taking part in the exercise, is another element importance of exercise » says General Wosolobe. The scenario indeed includes the deployment of an EU battlegroup to assist a UN mission previously deployed by a regional organisation. Objective: to ensure a safe and secure environment before, during and after a referendum on the future of a fictitious region, known as EIBA. Hence the importance of coordinating EU action with the relevant regional organisations. The EU Satellite Center (based in Torrejon) also participates, providing satellite maps, its specialty.

Milex 2014 approved

The 27 Defense Ministers (the 28 except Denmark) approved, on Monday (18 November), the specifications for the next annual military exercise (MILEX 14) which should take place at the end of first half of 2014, with Mont-Valérien as the operational headquarters and the Swedes in FHQ. As for the Multi Layer 2014 exercise, it will take place at the end of the year, with operations headquarters, this time in Rome. It is indeed Italy that will assume the rotating presidency of the European Union at that time.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde & Leonor Hubaut)

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