On 31st May 2024, the NATO Headquarters hosted the 21st iteration of the bi-annual IMS-EUMS Directors General Conference. Military staffs from NATO HQ and EU hold regular meetings to discuss key topics important for the collaboration between both international organizations.
"This conference remains an essential activity. It is a crucial driver for the cooperation between our two staffs", said the Director General of the NATO International Military Staff (DGIMS), Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak welcoming the Director General of the European Union Military Staff (DGEUMS), Lieutenant General Michiel van der Laan and his team. "Even more importantly, it is a key part of the larger effort to enhance the overall level of NATO-EU cooperation", he added
In his opening remarks, DGIMS pointed out that the global security environment presents a landscape fraught with complexity and undeniable urgency driven by issues ranging from the devastating Russian invasion of Ukraine to the escalating threat of cyberattacks and hybrid warfare. "Our two organizations, each equipped with unique strengths and perspectives, offer a potent force multiplier in confronting these contemporary challenges", he said.
In response, Lieutenant General van der Laan thanked DGIMS for hosting the conference and emphasised the importance of this cooperation stating it was not merely an option; it is an imperative. Highlighting that security challenges are no longer confined by geography, the need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach has never been more urgent. He further added, "The synergy between the EU and NATO, leveraging the strengths and capabilities of both organizations, is essential in addressing these multifaceted threats".
Discussions of the day focused on information exchange, collective training solutions, lessons identified and learned, cooperation in the field of capability development, logistics and enablement with a particular focus on military mobility, communications interoperability as well as cyber defence concepts and solutions. Both Directors agreed that exchanging ideas and sharing knowledge is essential to the success of NATO-EU cooperation.
"As we look to deepen our cooperation, it is more important than ever that our two military staffs continue to increase the level of mutual engagement to discuss and progress our shared objectives on our designated lines of development with the overarching aim to mutually strengthen our organisations", underscored Lieutenant General Adamczak in his closing remarks.
