This exercise is an important milestone in the development of the MPCC as it moves towards achieving its ambition as outlined in the EU Global Strategy 2016 and the Strategic Compass.  The exercise scenario, based on an Evacuation Operation of EU citizens and a EUTM, was designed to be complex and realistic. The intent is to honestly assess not only our structures and processes but also the human interfaces that drive them. In addition to this, the planning outputs produced could form the basis for future operational planning or be used as illustrative scenarios that will better inform our capability development.

The motivation to conduct exercises such as this underline the importance placed on Europe's ability to foster peace and safeguard security within and beyond its borders at the appropriate level of ambition, as set by the EU Global Strategy and prescribed by the Strategic Compass.

To that end, and in particular in response to external conflicts and crises, EU Member States are to enhance the activation, deployability and interoperability of their Headquarters and forces. This process requires continuous training and thorough exercises.

During the MILEX 22 Distinguished Visitors’ day on the 14 June 2022, the MPCC Director received the Chairman of EUMC, a number of PSC ambassadors and EU Military representatives where the distinguished guests had the opportunity to be briefed on the aim, objectives, scenario and the EU planning procedures at the Military Strategic level.

This exercise is the culmination of months of detailed planning and preparation to produce exercise specifications approved by the Council and instructions approved by the EUMC. The exercise scenario was based on an Evacuation Operation of EU citizens by air assets. It is the first iteration of MILEX that utilised the CIS deployable package (DP) and a designated Operational Planning tool (EUCCIS) for the production of a Strategic Planning Directive and Operational Plan. 

The exercise focused on the interaction among an EU Operation Headquarters (OHQ) and an EU Force Headquarters (FHQ) to plan an autonomous CSDP Military Operation. The Exercise Operation Commander (OpCdr) and the EU OHQ was provided by the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) in Brussels. MPCC was reinforced by a limited number of augmentees from EU Member States.

The Exercise Force Commander (FCdr) and the EU FHQ was provided by Spain. The EU FHQ was based on the EU FHQ of the “Division Castillejos” in Huesca, Spain. This HQ was reinforced by augmentees from EU Member States.

MPCC, the operational headquarters for this exercise, is currently responsible at the Strategic Level for the operational planning and conducting of the four EU Training Missions (EUTMs) in Africa. They include Somalia, Central African Republic, Mali and Mozambique. This Exercise identifies 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.

MILEX 22, as a Crisis Management Military Exercise through the complex exercise scenario, tested MPCC’s ability to act as on Operational Headquarters and to be responsible for the strategic planning and conduct of an EU military operation. The key lessons identified from the exercise are currently being assessed and will feed into the Final Exercise Report (FER).