The first part of EU Integrated Resolve 2020 (EU IR20), was concluded on 23 October 2020 with the presentation to the Political Security Committee of the civilian and military OPLANS by the Operation Commanders. This first phase of the Exercise was the delivery of a traditional multilayer type exercise with a CSDP civilian and military planning process. This incorporated the Military Planning Conduct Capability (MPCC), an IT Force Headquarters based in Capua,  the Civilian Planning Conduct Capability (CPCC), all other relevant services in the Commission (DEVCO, ECHO, FPI) , and Member States, from the “establishment” to the “launch” of the mission and operation. A partial evaluation of the MPCC and an observation of its CSDP planning phase was conducted by an independent evaluation team.

The second and final part of the EU Integrated Resolve 2020 (EU IR20) exercise, consisting of the activation of different crisis response mechanisms and the operational conduct of a civilian mission and a military operation, took place from 26 to 30 of Apr 2021. The Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), during the Exercise Integrated Resolve 20, assumed the responsibility of an Operational Headquarters able to conduct one executive EU CSDP operation up to EU Battle Group size. The conduct phase of the exercise was initially scheduled to take place from 30 Nov to 04 Dec 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID 19 restrictive measures that were in place in the EU institutions.

The conduct phase of the EU Integrated Resolve 2020 (EU IR20) followed the planning phase (concluded on 23 October) with the presentation to the Political Security Committee of the civilian and military OPLANS by the Operation Commanders. This phase was the delivery of a traditional multilayer type exercise with a CSDP civilian and military execution process. From the “establishment” to the “launch”, this incorporated MPCC, an IT Force Headquarters based in Capua, the Civilian Planning Conduct Capability (CPCC), all other relevant services in the Commission (DEVCO, ECHO, FPI) and Member States. IR 20 was the first exercise conducted in Brussels for a military standing command and MPCC achieved this challenge. A partial evaluation and observation of the MPCC, during the planning and conduct phases, were conducted by an independent observation team.

MPCC, the operational headquarters for this exercise, is currently responsible at the Strategic Level for the operational planning and conducting of the three EU Training Missions (EUTMs) in Africa. They include Somalia, Central African Republic and Mali. This Exercise revealed the level of ambition for MPCC and its capability to plan and conduct simultaneously one CSDP executive operation, up to EU Battle Group size and up to five non-executive CSDP military missions. IR 20, as an extended Multilayer Exercise through the exercise scenario, certainly tested MPCC’s ability to act as on Operational Headquarters, responsible for the strategic planning and conduct of a military operation. All this in the midst of a real-life pandemic that provided an additional but significant challenge.

Exercise EU IR20 provided the opportunity to fine tune military and civilian crisis management procedures, and it facilitated the establishment and development of interagency relationships that enhance the CSDP’s ability to respond to a crisis in a cohesive and effective manner. In this regard, Ex IR20 can only be considered a success. The added complication resultant from the COVID-19 pandemic, which was overcome by exercise players and evaluators alike, demonstrates the EU’s resolve and resilience in responding to conflict and crisis situations.