Security and Defence Subcommittee (SEDE) MEPs travelled to Germany and Poland to assess the EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine and observe the training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The five-member delegation from the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, led by Vice Chair Lukas Mandl (EPP, AT) were in Berlin and Warsaw from 24 to 26 July discussing the current state of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine with members of the two country’s governments, parliaments and senior military officials.
MEPs also visited the Special Training Command (STC) in Germany and the multinational Combined Arms Training Command (CAT-C) in Poland, to assess the EU Military Assistance Mission’s (EUMAM) pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Accompanied by the newly appointed Operations Commander for EUMAM Ukraine Lieutenant General Michael van der Laan, the MEPs met with Ukrainian soldiers and observed their exercises with Leopard tanks and complex combined arms live-fire.
EUMAM Ukraine focusses in providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces with tailor-made training, as requested by the Ukrainian General Staff, to enhance their military capacity and combat readiness. It is part of a comprehensive international approach coordinated with the partners in the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U), the Rammstein Group, and supported by military equipment from EU member states and the European Peace Facility.
MEPs saw that the effectiveness of EUMAM Ukraine is based on a dual approach of training supported by the provision of equipment, and they witnessed the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the European Peace Facility. The delegation gave a clear positive assessment of the work of EUMAM Ukraine and welcomed its approach as part of a new generation of EU CSDP operations that are flexible and adaptable to the needs of partners.
“The European Parliament stands firmly with Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy in the face of authoritarian Russia’s illegal war of aggression. We have met with brave and professional members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who have already demonstrated their skilled expertise on the battlefield,” said Lukas Mandl at the end-of-mission press conference.
“With this additional EU training, we are confident they will be more effective when returning home. We call on all EU institutions and member states to continue providing the necessary capabilities, including through the sustainable funding of the European Peace Facility. In standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes, we also encourage EUMAM Ukraine to work in partnership with the Ukrainian General Staff to ensure an approach that is adequate for the duration and evolution of the war,” he added.
In addition to SEDE Vice Chair Lukas Mandl (EPP, AT), the delegation consisted of the following Members: Arnaud Danjean (EPP, France); Attila Ara-Kovács (S&D, Hungary); Petras Auštrevičius (Renew, Lithuania); Anna Fotyga (ECR, Poland).
The EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine), launched in November 2022 for a period of two years, is designed to strengthen the military capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces, so that they can defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders and protect the civilian population.
The mission has a non-executive mandate to provide individual, collective and specialised training for the Ukrainian armed forces in the territory of EU member states. More than 20.000 soldiers would have benefited of these trainings since EUMAM Ukraine was launched.
