Neutral Ireland to take over top EU military position, beating Slovenia, Poland

The campaign to take over the chairmanship of the EU’s highest military body, the European Union Military Committee (EUMC), came to an end with the election of the Irish head of Defence Forces, Seán Clancy, on Wednesday (15 May).

The EU’s 27 Chiefs of Defence elected Ireland’s current Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Clancy to replace incumbent Austrian General Robert Brieger in May 2025, also from a neutral country.

It will be the first time Ireland has held the three-year position, and with his appointment, Clancy will become the country’s first four-star general in the last 100 years, as the national authorities promised during the campaign.

While the position may not have a publicly high profile, it is critical as the main military advisor to the EU’s chief diplomat—currently Josep Borrell—who also drives the bloc’s defence policy, especially the planning and execution of military missions and operations in its neighbourhood.

Brieger was elected before Russia illegally attacked Ukraine more than two years ago.

Since then, defence policy has moved to the top of the agenda following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, raising the stakes and the appeal in a job now likely to be easily politicised.

Next to Ireland, Slovenia and Poland had also put themselves forward with the names of experienced Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Robert Glavaš and recently promoted four-star general Slawomir Wojciechowski, the country’s current military representative to the EU and NATO.

Euractiv understands that Clancy was elected through a secret ballot against his Slovenian colleague, coming out on top as large member states shifted their votes to Ireland over the last few weeks.

Several countries excluded the Warsaw option, Wojciechowski, as a choice that seemed too ‘hawkish’ for some, especially in Western Europe.

They considered their views would be too defence-strong and Russia-oriented, which raised concerns that other partners and issues might not get as much attention.

Poland has also been interested in the defence industry commissioner post, which incumbent and candidate European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to create.

However, giving the military post to a neutral country is a stark contrast to the official speeches and interest from member states in giving defence policy a priority and involving the EU, though recent developments have shown reluctance to commit troops.

Ireland has tradition in crisis management but little core-defence capabilities, and is not a member of the US-led NATO military alliance.

“There seems to be a contradiction,” one EU diplomat commented to Euractiv.

It also clashes with the European Commission’s moves to give the EU a bigger role in boosting the bloc’s defence production.

Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin commented on the decision, saying Clancy has “almost forty years of distinguished military service with the Irish Defence Forces and, with his extensive range of defence experience and his skills in partnership building”.

[Edited by Alexandra Brzozowski/Alice Tayor]

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