Bridging Strategy and Action: EU Mission Force Commanders Gather in Brussels

Hosted under the lead of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), with Lieutenant General Van der Laan at the helm, the conference highlighted on the one hand the role of the military strategic headquarters MPCC as the bridge between the political level in Brussels and execution on the ground. On the other hand, it confirmed the quality delivered on the ground by the Missions.

Across the discussions, one message stood out: soft power and hard power are two sides of the same medal. There is no other way forward than the integrated approach and effective action requires both political engagement and credible operational capability, working in concert.

The conference provided valuable space for mutual understanding, frank exchanges, and fresh insights into possible future directions for EU missions. Mission Force Commanders engaged directly with prominent speakers from Brussels, including the Chair of the Political and Security Committee Ms Lene Mandel Vensild, the Chair of the EU Military Committee General Seán Clancy, the Civilian Operations Commander Mr Stefano Tomat and the Director of PCM Mr Cosmin Dobran.

The result was a clearer shared picture of priorities, stronger connections between levels of command, and renewed momentum for the EU’s missions on the ground.