Director General of the European Union Military Staff

The Director General of the European Union Military Staff (DGEUMS) is the head of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) who also serves as Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (Dir MPCC). This position, which was established in 2001, is held by a three-star general. The current holder is lieutenant general Michiel van der Laan, occupying the position since June 2023.

Task
The Director General is responsible for the EUMS' work in providing strategic advice to the High Representative (HR), reporting to the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) - representing member states' Chiefs of Defence - and performing "early warning", situation assessment and strategic planning. Since 2017 the DGEUMS has served as Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), and assumes the function of the single commander for all non-executive military missions of the European Union (EU). The DGEUMS exercises command and control over the current three training Missions and other possible future operations. Presently the MPCC may only run non-executive operations. By the end of 2020 the MPCC will be capable of running executive operations of up to 2,500 troops, i.e. the size of one battle group.

Deputy
The DGEUMS is assisted by the Deputy Director General and the Chef of Staff (DDG/COS, a two-star general).