Council Decision (EU) 2017/971 of 8 June 2017 determining the planning and conduct arrangements for EU non-executive military CSDP missions and amending Decisions 2010/96/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of Somali security forces, 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian armed forces (EUTM Mali) and (CFSP) 2016/610 on a European Union CSDP military training mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA)
Council Decision (EU) 2017/971 of 8 June 2017 determining the planning and conduct arrangements for EU non-executive military CSDP missions and amending Decisions 2010/96/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of Somali security forces, 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian armed forces (EUTM Mali) and (CFSP) 2016/610 on a European Union CSDP military training mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA)
Decision (EU) 2017/971 · Decision · 9 articles
Data as of 2026-07-04 · Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
1. The responsibility for the operational planning and conduct of EU non-executive military missions at the military strategic level shall be assigned to the Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC).
2. At the operational level in theatre, non-executive military missions shall, when established, be led by an EU Mission Force Commander, who shall act under the command of the Director of the MPCC in exercising the functions of missions' commander.
3. The Director of the MPCC, in exercising the functions of missions' commander for non-executive military missions, shall act under the political control and strategic direction of the Political and Security Committee, in accordance with Article 38 of the Treaty.
1. In line with agreed EU principles for command and control, and in accordance with the revised Terms of Reference of the EUMS, the MPCC shall support the Director of the MPCC in exercising his or her functions as missions' commander, as the static, out-of-area command and control structure at the military strategic level which is responsible for the operational planning and conduct of non-executive military missions, including the building up, launching, sustaining and recovery of Union forces.
2. In theatre, when a mission is established, a Mission Force Headquarters shall assist the EU Mission Force Commander.
The Director of the MPCC, in assuming the functions of missions' commander, shall exercise the responsibilities of the operation commander under Decision (CFSP) 2015/528.
Council Decision 2010/96/CFSP ( 4 ) is amended as follows:
(1)
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 2 are replaced by the following:
‘1. The Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) shall be EUTM Somalia mission commander.
2. Brigadier General Maurizio Morena is hereby appointed EU Mission Force Commander of EUTM Somalia.’.
(2)
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3 are replaced by the following:
‘1. The MPCC shall be the static command and control structure at the military strategic level outside the area of operations, which is responsible for the operational planning and conduct of EUTM Somalia.
2. The Mission Force Headquarters of EUTM Somalia shall be located in Mogadishu and shall operate under the command of the EU Mission Force Commander. It shall include a liaison office in Nairobi.
3. A support cell in Brussels of the Mission Force Headquarters shall be included in the MPCC until the MPCC has reached full operational capacity.’.
(3)
In Article 5(1), at the end of the fourth sentence, the words ‘the EU Mission Commander’ are replaced by:
‘the EU Mission Force Commander’.
(4)
In Article 5(3), the following words are inserted in the second sentence before the words ‘to its meetings’:
‘and the EU Mission Force Commander’.
(5)
In Article 6(2), the following words are inserted in the second sentence before the words ‘to its meetings’:
‘and the EU Mission Force Commander’.
(6)
Article 7(2) is replaced by the following:
‘2. Without prejudice to the chain of command, the EU Mission Force Commander shall receive local political guidance from the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa coordinated with relevant Union delegations in the region.’.
(7)
In Article 8(2), the following words are inserted before the words ‘and the EUMC’:
‘in consultation with the EU Mission Force Commander,’.
(8)
In Article 11(5), the following words are added at the end of the sentence:
‘and/or to the EU Mission Force Commander.’.
(9)
In Article 13(2), the words ‘an EU Mission Commander’ are replaced by:
‘the EU Mission Force Commander’.
Council Decision 2013/34/CFSP ( 5 ) is amended as follows:
(1)
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 2 are replaced by the following:
‘1. The Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) shall be EUTM Mali mission commander.
2. Brigadier General Peter Devogelaere is hereby appointed EU Mission Force Commander of EUTM Mali.’.
(2)
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3 are replaced by the following:
‘1. The MPCC shall be the static command and control structure at the military strategic level outside the area of operations, which is responsible for the operational planning and conduct of EUTM Mali.
2. The Mission Force Headquarters of EUTM Mali shall be located in Mali and shall operate under the command of the EU Mission Force Commander.
3. A support cell in Brussels of the Mission Force Headquarters shall be included in the MPCC until the MPCC has reached full operational capacity.’.
(3)
In Article 5(1), at the end of the fourth sentence, the words ‘EU Mission Commanders’ are replaced by:
‘EU Mission Force Commanders’.
(4)
In Article 5(3), the following words are inserted in the second sentence before the words ‘to its meetings’:
‘and the EU Mission Force Commander’.
(5)
In Article 6(2), the following words are inserted in the second sentence before the words ‘to its meetings’:
‘and the EU Mission Force Commander’.
(6)
Article 7(2) is replaced by the following:
‘2. Without prejudice to the chain of command, the EU Mission Force Commander shall receive local political guidance from the European Union Special Representative for the Sahel coordinated with the Head of the Union Delegation in Bamako.’.
(7)
In Article 8(2), the following words are inserted before the words ‘and the EUMC’:
‘in consultation with the EU Mission Force Commander,’.
(8)
In Article 11(5), the following words are added at the end of the sentence:
‘and/or to the EU Mission Force Commander.’.
Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/610 ( 6 ) is amended as follows:
(1)
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 2 are replaced by the following:
‘1. The Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) shall be EUTM RCA mission commander.
2. Brigadier General Herman Ruys is hereby appointed EU Mission Force Commander of EUTM RCA.’.
(2)
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3 are replaced by the following:
‘1. The MPCC shall be the static command and control structure at the military strategic level outside the area of operations, which is responsible for the operational planning and conduct of EUTM RCA.
2. The Mission Force Headquarters of EUTM RCA shall be located in Bangui and shall operate under the command of the Mission Force Commander.
3. A support cell in Brussels of the Mission Force Headquarters shall be included in the MPCC until the MPCC has reached full operational capacity.’.
(3)
In Article 5(1), in the fourth sentence, the words ‘the EU Mission Commanders’ are replaced by:
‘the EU Mission Force Commanders’.
(4)
In Article 5(3), the following words are inserted in the second sentence before the words ‘to its meetings’:
‘and the EU Mission Force Commander’.
(5)
In Article 6(2), the following words are inserted in the second sentence before the words ‘to its meetings’:
‘and the EU Mission Force Commander’.
(6)
Article 7(2) is replaced by the following:
‘2. Without prejudice to the chain of command, the EU Mission Force Commander shall receive local political guidance from the Head of the Union Delegation to the Central African Republic.’.
(7)
In Article 7(4), the words ‘EU Mission Commander’ are replaced by:
‘EU Mission Force Commander’.
(8)
In Article 8(2), the following words are inserted before the words ‘and the EUMC’:
‘in consultation with the EU Mission Force Commander,’.
(9)
In Article 12(5), the following words are added at the end of the sentence:
‘and/or to the EU Mission Force Commander.’.
The Council shall review, on the basis of a report by the HR, the establishment of the MPCC and of the Joint Support Coordination Cell one year after they become fully operational, and in any event by the end of 2018.
