EU to conduct Live Military Exercise in Germany

From 25 November to 10 December, the European Union will conduct its second Live Military Exercise (LIVEX) in Bergen, Germany. This live exercise is part of the wider MILEX24 which also included a command post exercise part. It is an important step in the implementation of the full operational capability of the European Union Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC), one of the key deliverables of the EU's Strategic Compass. The aim of the EU RDC is to enable the deployment of modular force of up to 5,000 troops to respond to a crisis outside the EU's borders.

The Combined multinational exercise will be conducted under the command of Eurocorps and the German Army Command. The EU LIVEX will build on the German-led Exercise EUROPEAN CHALLENGE 2024. This live exercise will train the deployment of the EU Battlegroup Force Package 25 for a predefined scenario.

15 EU Member States* and more than 1,700 soldiers will participate in the EU LIVEX. The aim is to test the interoperability in planning and conducting common operation throughout all levels:

• The Operation Headquarters (OHQ) at strategic level under the responsibility of Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) from Brussels.
• The Force Headquarters [(F)HQ)] at the operational level under the responsibility of Eurocorps, will train from Bergen (mainly) and Strasbourg, reinforced by an Irish company as force protection.
• The EU Battlegroup (EUBG) troops at tactical level deployed in the Bergen training area. Germany provides the EUBG with the CORE Battle Group under the command of the Mountain Infantry Battalion 231, a light/reinforced infantry unit, as well as medical parts of the Medical Task Force (MED TF). Austria provides the Combat Service Support Battalion.

A Distinguished Visitors and Media Day will be held in Bergen Training Area on 4 December. Further information will be provided at a later date.

Background

Since 2002, the European Union has been conducting crisis management military exercises to test the effectiveness of military command structures and procedures.

Within this framework, the EU live exercises, with the first edition taking place in 2023 in Spain, are a key step in the implementation of the full operational capability of the European Union Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC), which is one of the key actions under the EU's Strategic Compass.

With the 2022 Strategic Compass, the EU Member States have adopted an ambitious action plan to strengthen the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) between now and 2030. Once fully operational in 2025, the EU RDC will enable the deployment of a European force of up to 5,000 soldiers, capable of responding to any crisis outside the EU's borders. It will stand as a robust, flexible and scalable military instrument of rapid response. Within this framework, Eurocorps will be the Force Headquarters ((F)HQ), responsible for commanding the European Union Battlegroup (EUBG) for the year 2025.

*Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Hungary, Croatia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden.