Press release: EUMC away days

Stockholm (Sweden), Apr 21st, 2023 – Under the auspices of the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council, the EU Military Committee travelled to the northern capital to hold an informal meeting.

During the working sessions and discussions with local political authorities, Gen Robert Brieger, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, and the 27 Military Representatives of EU Member States had the opportunity to reflect on two main topics: Military Lessons from the Ukraine War and the consequences for CSDP, and how to strengthen the influence of timely military advice in the EU decision-making process.

"Although it is difficult to predict the short-and medium-term developments in Ukraine, after a year it is time to draw some preliminary conclusions and try to better understand the potential consequences for our future CSDP missions,” said Gen. Brieger opening the working session in presence of the Swedish Chief of Defence, General Micael Bydén.

“The return of high-intensity, large-scale warfare to Europe has cast a harsh light on the consequences of years of underinvestment in European defense, revealing significant capability gaps and insufficient stockpiles, inter alia. At the same time, the recent increase in EU defense spending to unprecedented levels presents a unique opportunity to not only invest more, but also invest better, taking into consideration the implications of war on capability requirements. Among the consequences for future CSDP challenges are intelligence cooperation, the significance of Stratcom and civilian resilience and resistance, logistics and military mobility, the importance of deep fires, the vulnerability of C2 nodes, and the ever-changing balance between mass and technology."

Concerning the second topic, the EU Military Committee convened that in order to mitigate the disparity between the EU's political ambitions and national commitments, which sometime jeopardizes the achievement of the agreed-upon objective, it should continue to act at all levels to support the decision-making processes, with an always solid, timely and – most importantly - unfettered military advice.

“As Subject Matter Experts – said the Chairman – we will continue to put all the best of our strategic, operational and tactical military experience at the disposal of the political authorities, for the benefit of a more safe and credible EU, as a security provider and partner”.

During its stay in Stockholm, the EU Military Committee had the opportunity to meet with the Swedish Minister of Defence, Pål Jonsson, and with the State Secretary for Defence, Peter Sandwall. The delegation visited also the Haninge Garrison, hosted by Admiral Haslum, Chief of the Swedish Navy, and the local Army Museum.

“We are grateful to Sweden for the meaningful management of its Semester of Presidency, with a long list of relevant priorities and associated events fully under accomplishment,” said General Brieger on his way back to Brussels, on behalf of the whole EU Military Committee.