On Friday, 28 January 2022, the Chief of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Demokritos Zervakis, participated in the extraordinary session of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) at the level of the Heads of Armed Forces (HAF) of the Member States (MS), which was held via teleconference.
During the meeting, the CSOs were briefed on the evolution of the dialogue and next steps for the completion of the institutional text of the Strategic Compass (SC), while an exchange of views took place on the process of improving the EU Rapid Reaction Toolbox and the corresponding EU Hybrid Toolbox. The EUMC was opened by the President of the EUMC, General Claudio Graziano, who referred to the important institutional role that the Military Committee will continue to play until the finalisation of the CP text.[THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEFING BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EU EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE, AMBASSADOR PAWEL HERCZYNSKI, WHO SUMMARISED ALL THE ONGOING PROCESSES, BOTH AT CIVILIAN AND MILITARY LEVEL, AS WELL AS THE TIMETABLE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE CP AND THE EU RAPID REACTION TOOLBOX.
The briefings were concluded by the Director General of the EU Military Staff (DGEUMS), Vice Admiral Herve Blejean, on the current state of play of the final text of the CP, in particular with regard to the incorporation into it of the previous EUMC recommendations agreed at the previous EUMC-level meeting on 25-26 Oct 2021. He also informed on the drafting processes of the policy document regarding the EU Rapid Reaction Toolbox.
During the discussion of the topic on the CP, the Chief of the AF, in his intervention, pointed out that the existing draft does not give equal consideration to all strategic competitors whose hybrid actions and challenges are contrary to EU interests.
In a similar intervention, regarding the development of Rapid Response Capabilities, the Chief of Staff reiterated support for any effort to further develop the EU's military capabilities, as he considers it to be the most feasible and reliable action, which will enable the EU to respond flexibly and effectively to crisis management. Furthermore, in his statement he supported the EU's efforts to further develop its capabilities for a comprehensive response to hybrid threats, as the region of Eastern Europe is a key region for the EU's ability to respond comprehensively to hybrid threats. The Chief also referred to the issue of maritime security, highlighting the strategic importance and priority of the areas within, or adjacent to, the EU's external borders. In this context, he concluded, the CP is a unique opportunity to highlight the importance and provide an opportunity to define the framework for triggering the Mutual Assistance Clause of Article 42 (7) of the EU Treaty, given that one of the key objectives of the CP is to enhance solidarity in the event of crisis response within the EU.
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