During the past several days Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas attended meetings of European Union and NATO Military Committees in Brussels, Belgium.
On May 15 Chiefs of Defence of EU countries met at the EU Council HQ and discussed implementation of the EU Global Strategy on security and defence, EU cooperation with NATO and the UN, EU military operations, training missions and development of military capabilities chaired by General Mikhail.
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini presented the vision on the EU Global strategy in the area of security and defence.
The EU Chiefs of Defence reviewed EU military capability initiatives, including PESCO, Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), European Defence Industry Development Program (EDIDP), and military mobility.
On May 16 the 179th meetings of the NATO Military Committee took place at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Under the chairmanship of General Petr Pavel NATO Chiefs of Defence addressed topical aspects of NATO strategic direction west, including NATO training and capacity building mission in Iraq, implementation of deterrence, readiness for collective defence, and adaptation of the Alliance, in preparation for the upcoming NATO Defence Minister meeting in June and the NATO Summit in July.
NATO Chiefs of Defence agreed that it was important for NATO's Training and Capacity Building Mission - Iraq to complement other international efforts, particularly the Global Coalition against ISIS and the EU mission. The y underscored that the majority of actors in Iraq, and south in general, could significantly increase efficiency of their activity if they coordinated their actions better with each other.
When discussing further enhancement of NATO deterrence and defence NATO CHODs acknowledged the progress made but stressed the importance of better readiness of forces and speedy reinforcement. The need to further cooperate closely with the EU was stressed in that context in order to ensure the freedom of movement to NATO forces better.
NATO CHODs met with Deputy NATO Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller and counterparts from partner countries - Australia, Jordan, Georgia, Finland, and Sweden, at the event.
European Union Military Committee is the most senior EU military institution comprising Chiefs of Defence of the EU countries. The body leads all European military activities, primarily in the area of planning and completing Common Security and Defence Policy and developing military capabilities. The Committee also provides recommendations on military issues to the EU Political and Security Committee which shapes the Foreign and Security Policy. EU Chiefs of Defence convene as the EU Military Committee in Brussels twice a year.
The Military Committee (MC) is NATO's highest structure of military command subordinate to the North Atlantic Council, Defence Planning Committee and Nuclear Planning Group. It takes strategic-level military decisions and forms military advice to the North Atlantic Council, the political decision-making body. At the highest level the MC is comprised of NATO countries' Chiefs of Defence while daily activities are carried out by their military representatives. Chiefs of Defence sessions normally take place three times per year, two in Brussels and one - in one of the NATO states on a rotational basis.
Photo credits: EU and NATO
