Surprise Ceremony Honors Colonel Stéphane Peumery with CSDP Meritorious Service Medal

Brussels, 19 August 2025 – Colonel Stéphane Peumery, Head of the Analyst Branch in the Intelligence Directorate of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS INT), was today awarded the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Meritorious Service Medal during a surprise ceremony attended by colleagues and senior staff.

Over the past three years, Colonel Peumery has played a central role in strengthening the intelligence function within the EUMS. Through his sharp analyses and strategic guidance, he has provided essential support to the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) and EU-led missions. He has also been a key architect in shaping a more agile and responsive structure within the INT Directorate, ensuring that the EU’s military decision-making is underpinned by timely and accurate assessments.

The medal was presented in recognition of his exceptional professionalism, leadership, and contribution to the EU. In a rare turn of events for an intelligence officer, Colonel Peumery had not been informed of the ceremony beforehand, making the recognition all the more poignant.

Colonel Peumery will shortly return to France, where he will be promoted to the rank of General and take up a new assignment with the Land Component Command in Lille. His colleagues expressed both pride in his achievements and regret at his departure, underlining the significant impact of his work and leadership during his tenure in Brussels.

EUMS INT

Within the EUMS, the Intelligence Directorate (EUMS INT) contributes to Situational Awareness for EU Leadership, early warning capabilities, EUMS planning and Crisis Response planning and assessment for operations, missions and exercises 

EUMS INT is organised in two departments. Firstly, the Policy Branch provides the structural backbone and develops inter alia the design of intelligence concepts and contributes to the planning of EU military operations. It also coordinates with all national military intelligence services and external partners and parties. Secondly, the Analysis Branch which collects, assesses and merges  intelligence contributions from the national military intelligence agencies. The EU largely  depends on the contribution of the member states regarding classified information. The Analysis Branch on a daily basis produces intelligence assessments on specific topics and also briefs various EU bodies, institutions and agencies.

Due to the risen importance of the EEAS, the need for intelligence support at EU level has also risen. The EUMS INT cooperates closely with the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre (INTCEN) to address the requirements of the EU institutions and policy makers. The INTCEN is the a civilian intelligence institution in the framework of the EEAS under the authority of the HR/VP. EUMS INT also works with the EU Satellite Centre (SATCEN), which produces Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) for EU institutions. EUMS INT and EU INTCEN analyse, produce and brief joint intelligence within the framework of the Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity (SIAC), which is assigned as the single point of entrance for intelligence in the EU.