Division 3 RoleF1

It is the source of the EU's military expertise.

It assures the link between the EUMC on the one hand and the military resources available to the EU on the other, and it provides military expertise to EU bodies as directed by the EUMC.

It performs three main operational functions: early warning, situation assessment and strategic planning.

It conducts early planning in sufficient detail, inter alia, to allow Member States to assess their potential force contributions and for the EUMS to provide appropriate expertise along the decision-making process.

It provides an early warning capability. It plans, assesses and makes recommendations regarding the concept of crisis management and the general military strategy and implements the decisions and guidance of the EUMC.

It supports the EUMC regarding situation assessment and military aspects of strategic planning ^f1 over the full range of missions and tasks referred to in Article 17(2) of the TEU, including those identified in the European Security Strategy, for all cases of EU-led operations, whether or not the EU draws on NATO assets and capabilities.

It supports (upon request of the SG/HR or the PSC) temporary missions to third countries or international organisations, in order to provide, as required, advice and assistance on military aspects of conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict stabilisation.

It contributes to the process of elaboration, assessment and review of the capability goals, taking into account the need, for those Member States concerned, to ensure consistency with NATO's DPP and the PARP of the PfP in accordance with agreed procedures.

It works in close coordination with the European Defence Agency.

It is responsible for monitoring, assessing and making recommendations on training, exercises and interoperability, in connection with the forces and capabilities made available to the EU by the Member States.

It maintains the capacity to reinforce the national HQ designated to conduct an EU autonomous operation.

It is responsible for generating the capacity to plan and run an autonomous EU military operation, and maintains the capacity within EUMS rapidly to set up an operations centre for a specific operation, in particular where a joint civil/military response is required and where no national HQ is identified, once a decision on such an operation has been taken by the Council, upon the advice of the EUMC.