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Military Planning and Conduct Capability

Coordinates: 50°50′43″N 4°23′25″E / 50.84528°N 4.39028°E / 50.84528; 4.39028
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This article is about the permanent operational headquarters (OHQ) established in 2017. For the list of other OHQs that may be selected for the planning and conduct of individual European Union military missions, see Operational headquarters of the European Union.

50°50′43″N 4°23′25″E / 50.84528°N 4.39028°E / 50.84528; 4.39028

Military Planning and Conduct Capability
EUMS coat of arms
Active8 June 2017–present[1]
Allegiance European Union
TypeOperational headquarters
RoleCommands CSDP operations
Size154 personnel (prospective)[2]
Part ofEuropean Union Military Staff of the European External Action Service
LocationKortenberg building, Brussels, Belgium
Websiteeuropa.eu
Commanders
High Repr.Josep Borrell
DirectorVice Admiral Hervé Bléjean
Deputy Director and Chief of StaffMajor General Teodoro Hermínio Maio

The Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) is a permanent operational headquarters (OHQ) at the military strategic level for military operations of up to 2,500 troops (i.e. the size of one battle group) deployed as part of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of the European Union (EU) by the end of 2020. Since its inception in 2017, the MPCC has commanded three non-executive training missions in Somalia, Mali and the Central African Republic, and will organise the training of Ukrainian forces on EU soil.

The MPCC is part of the EU Military Staff (EUMS), a directorate-general of the European External Action Service (EEAS). The Director General of the EUMS also serves as Director of the MPCC - exercising command and control over the operations.

Through the Joint Support Coordination Cell (JSCC), the MPCC cooperates with its civilian counterpart, the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC).[3]

The MPCC is situated in the Kortenberg building in Brussels, Belgium, along with a number of other CSDP bodies.

History

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Further information: History of the Common Security and Defence Policy and Operational headquarters of the European Union § History

2016-2020: MPCC established for non-executive missions

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In 2016, the European Union Global Strategy was adopted a British referendum was held and resulted in favour of UK withdrawal (Brexit). In its November 2016 Conclusions on implementing the Global Strategy in the area of security and defence, the Council of the EU invited High Representative Morgherini to propose ‘a permanent operational planning and conduct capability at the strategic level for non-executive military missions’ under political control and strategic direction of the Political and Security Committee (PSC).

On 8 June 2017, the Council of the European Union (EU) decided to establish a Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), albeit not permitted to run executive missions in order to avoid a British veto.[4]

A non-executive military mission is defined as an operation conducted in support of a host nation which has an advisory role only. In comparison to an executive military operation which is mandated to conduct actions in replacement of the host nation. Combat operations would fall into this category.[5]

2020-: First mandate extension

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EU officials have indicated that a review in 2018 might extend the MPCC's mandate to include operations with combat elements - or so-called executive missions.[6] Diplomats have indicated that the MPCC will be 'rebranded' as the EU's Operational Headquarters (OHQ) after the British withdrawal from the Union, which was scheduled to happen on 31 October 2019.[7] On 20 November 2018 the MPCC's mandate was expanded to include executive operations, i.e. with combat elements, by the end of 2020.[2] As such, the MPCC takes over role of the previous European Union Operations Centre (EU OPCEN).

Second mandate extension

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A further review of the MPCC's roles and responsibilities has been agreed[how?] with a view to completion by the end of 2020. It is expected that the review will recommend the expansion of the MPCC's role even further and establish it as the EU military planning HQ that several member states have long hoped for and the UK has always opposed.[8]

This should be seen in connection with a Permanent Structured Cooperation project titled Strategic Command and Control System for CSDP Missions and Operations.[9] This aims to "improve the command and control systems of EU missions and operations at the strategic level. Once implemented, the project will enhance the military decision-making process, improve the planning and conduct of missions, and the coordination of EU forces. The Strategic Command and Control (C2) System for CSDP Missions will connect users by delivering information systems and decision-making support tools that will assist strategic commanders carry out their missions. Integration of information systems would include intelligence, surveillance, command and control, and logistics systems."

Structure

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See also: Structure of the Common Security and Defence Policy

The EU command and control (C2) structure is directed by political bodies composed of member states' representatives, and generally requires unanimous decisions. As of April 2019:[10]

Liaison:       Advice and recommendations       Support and monitoring       Preparatory work     
Political strategic level:[5]
ISSEUCO Pres. (EUCO)Chain of command
Coordination/support
SatCenCIVCOMHR/VP (FAC)
INTCENHR/VP (PMG)HR/VP (PSC)[6]

CEUMC (EUMC)
CMPD

DGEUMS[3] (EUMS)
Military/civilian strategic level:


Dir MPCC[3] (MPCC)		JSCCCiv OpCdr CPCC[1]
Operational level:
MFCdr[4] (MFHQ)HoM[1]
Tactical level:
CC[2] LandCC[2] AirCC[2] MarOther CCs[2]
ForcesForcesForcesForces


1 In the event of a CSDP Civilian Mission also being in the field, the relations with the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) and its Civilian Operation Commander (Civ OpCdr), as well as the subordinate Head of Mission (HoM), are coordinated as shown.
2 Other Component Commanders (CCs) and service branches which may be established.
3 The MPCC is part of the EUMS and Dir MPCC is double-hatted as DGEUMS. Unless the MPCC is used as Operation Headquarters (OHQ), either a national OHQ offered by member states or the NATO Command Structure (NCS) would serve this purpose. In the latter instance, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), rather than Dir MPCC, would serve as Operation Commander (OpCdr).
4 Unless the MPCC is used as Operation Headquarters (OHQ), the MFCdr would be known as a Force Commander (FCdr), and direct a Force Headquarters (FHQ) rather than a MFHQ. Whereas the MFHQ would act both on the operational and tactical level, the FHQ would act purely on the operational level.
5 The political strategic level is not part of the C2 structure per se, but represents the political bodies, with associated support facilities, that determine the missions' general direction. The Council determines the role of the High Representative (HR/VP), who serves as Vice-President of the European Commission, attends European Council meetings, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and may chair the Political and Security Committee (PSC) in times of crisis. The HR/VP proposes and implements CSDP decisions.
6 Same composition as Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) II, which also prepares for the CSDP-related work of the FAC.

The MPCC is a single military strategic command and control structure, responsible for the operational planning and conduct of military missions of up to 2,500 troops.[2] This includes the building up, deployment, sustaining and recovery of EU forces. The MPCC will at present control the three EU training missions in Central African Republic, Mali and Somalia.

The MPCC will be reporting to the Political and Security Committee (PSC), and informing the EU Military Committee (EUMC).[11] The MPCC will cooperate with its existing civilian counterpart, the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), through a Joint Support Coordination Cell (JSCC).

The MPCC has a maximum of 60 personnel, in addition to personnel seconded from member states.[2]

The relationship between the High Representative, the Military Staff and Military Committee as of November 2017:[12] Colour key:
  High Representative (a Vice-President of the Commission)
  Military Committee (EUMC; a Council body)
  Military Staff (EUMS; a Directorate-General of the External Action Service)

High Representative

Chairman EUMC
Working Group

Working Group/Headline Goal Task Force		Director General EUMS/
Director MPCC
Legal advisorDeputy Director General
Horizontal Coordination
Assistant Chief of Staff for SynchronisationEU cell at SHAPEEU Liaison at the UN in NYAssistant Chief of Staff for External RelationsNATO Permanent Liaison Team
Concepts & Capabilities
Directorate
Intelligence
Directorate
Operations
Directorate
Logistics
Directorate
Communications & Information Systems
Directorate
Military Planning and
Conduct Capability (MPCC)
Chief of Staff
Working Group
Current Operations


Director

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Main article: Director General of the European Union Military Staff

The Director General of the EUMS also serves as the Director of the MPCC and in that capacity assume the function of the single commander for all non-executive military missions, exercising command and control over the current three training Missions and other possible future non-executive military Missions.

The current three Mission Commanders will become ‘Mission Force Commanders’ who will act under the command of the Director of the MPCC and will remain responsible for exercising military command authority on the ground. The Director of the MPCC will assume the same role, tasks and command relationships as those attributed to a military Operation Commander (OpCdr). He will exercise the responsibilities related to deployment and recovery of the missions as well as overall budgeting, auditing and reporting.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Timeline: EU cooperation on security and defence - Consilium". www.consilium.europa.eu.
  2. ^ a b c d "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
  3. ^ https://cdn4-eeas.fpfis.tech.ec.europa.eu/cdn/farfuture/aGKF41zrLDLuNeg8csm24scxmjEwj4JBvrRbaLeaY4M/mtime:1542656575/sites/eeas/files/mpcc_factsheet_november_2018.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ Mogherini sees way past UK spat over military HQ, Euractiv 16 May 2017
  5. ^ Mills, Claire (23 August 2021). "European defence: Where is it heading?".
  6. ^ EU military HQ to take charge of Africa missions, EUObserver 6 March 2017
  7. ^ "UK and US will be allowed to join some EU military projects". October 2018.
  8. ^ Mills, Claire (23 August 2021). "European defence: Where is it heading?".
  9. ^ "Strategic C2 System for CSDP Missions and Operations (EUMILCOM) | PESCO". Pesco.europa.eu. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  10. ^ EU Command and Control, p. 13, Military Staff
  11. ^ a b "EU defence cooperation: Council establishes a Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) - Consilium". www.consilium.europa.eu.
  12. ^ "Impetus" (PDF). eeas.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 April 2023.

Further reading

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