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| Military Planning and Conduct Capability | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Military Planning and Conduct Capability |
| Native name | MPCC |
| Start date | 2017 |
| Country | European Union |
| Branch | Common Security and Defence Policy |
| Role | Planning and conduct of non-executive missions |
| Garrison | Brussels |
Military Planning and Conduct Capability
The Military Planning and Conduct Capability functions as the operational hub for planning and conducting non-executive Common Security and Defence Policy missions within the European Union framework, supporting strategic guidance from the European Council and political direction by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. It interfaces with headquarters such as the European External Action Service, and liaises with member-state institutions including the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Bundeswehr leadership, and defence staffs in capitals like Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, and Warsaw. The MPCC coordinates with international organizations such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization, United Nations, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and African Union to align missions with mandates like those from the United Nations Security Council or political decisions from the European Council.
The MPCC provides operational planning, situational awareness, and command-and-control functions for non-executive military missions, collaborating with strategic actors including the European External Action Service, the Political and Security Committee (PSC), and national operational headquarters like the General Staff of the Armed Forces (France), Streitkräftebasis (Germany), and Stability Policing counterparts. It manages missions similar in scope to EU Training Mission Somalia, EUTM Mali, and links to legacy structures such as the Operation Atalanta staff, while ensuring compliance with legal frameworks like the Treaty of Lisbon and mandates resulting from the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The MPCC was established following political decisions after crises such as the Yugoslav Wars, Iraq War, and the Mali War that highlighted the EU’s need for operational military planning capacity. Debates at summits including the European Council (1992) and institutions like the European Defence Agency informed progressive steps from the Headquarters (HQ) Concept to a permanent cell within the European External Action Service, formalized after negotiations involving leaders from France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy. Reforms echo precedents from multinational commands such as the SACEUR staff, EUFOR Althea command structures, and cooperative arrangements exemplified by the Berlin Plus agreement.
The MPCC comprises a Director, Mission Force Commanders, and staff branches for plans, operations, intelligence, logistics, and legal affairs, drawing personnel seconded from national services including the Royal Navy, French Army, Bundeswehr, Italian Army, and Spanish Army. It coordinates with the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability and the European Union Military Staff, reporting to the High Representative via the Political and Security Committee (PSC). Liaison arrangements exist with headquarters such as Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, and national Defence Staffs in capitals like Athens, Lisbon, and Helsinki.
Planning cycles at the MPCC follow doctrine influenced by manuals and doctrines from institutions like the NATO Defence Planning Process, French Joint Doctrine, and U.S. Joint Publication series, while aligning with legal guidance from the European Court of Justice and mandates from the United Nations Security Council. Core processes include mission analysis, concept development, operational planning, and conduct of operations, integrating expertise from think tanks and academies such as the European University Institute, Royal United Services Institute, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and military colleges like the NATO Defence College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
The MPCC typically conducts non-executive training, advisory, and capacity-building missions similar to EUTM Somalia, EUTM Mali, and EUAM Iraq, and supports policing and rule-of-law efforts akin to EUPOL Kosovo and EULEX Kosovo. It enables operations ranging from military advisory missions, training missions, liaison detachments, to civilian-military cooperation tasks in theaters influenced by crises such as the Sahel conflict, Horn of Africa crisis, and instability linked to the Arab Spring.
The MPCC coordinates multinational exercises and readiness activities referencing scenarios used by Exercise Trident Juncture, Operation Saber Strike, and EU-directed exercises like European Union Battle Group rotations. Training pipelines draw on institutions such as the NATO School Oberammergau, European Security and Defence College, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and national staff colleges in Rome, Brussels, and Stockholm, while interoperability testing uses standards from NATO Standardization Office and cooperation frameworks with partners including Jordan, Tunisia, and Norway.
Interoperability is pursued through partnerships with multinational alliances and organizations such as NATO, the United Nations, the African Union, and bilateral frameworks with United States Department of Defense components, while engaging industry stakeholders including major defence firms based in Paris, London, Berlin, and Madrid. The MPCC leverages agreements like Berlin Plus and coordination mechanisms with Allied Command Operations to synchronize logistics, intelligence-sharing, and rules of engagement with contributing states including Poland, Sweden, Greece, and Portugal.
Category:European Union security policy