The High Representative, Federica Mogherini, addressed the CHODs for an update on the Global Strategy on Foreign and Security policy and on the EEAS review.

The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Petr Pavel, participated to the works. Reinforcing once again the linkages between NATO and the EU.

The following session was an opportunity to discuss EU/NATO Cooperation in the field of Capability development and the work on the implementation of EU-NATO Joint Declaration. This session has been facilitated by the active participation of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), General Denis Mercier and the European Defence Agency (EDA).

The last discussion of the first day, was on the Western Balkans Partnership with a view on the future of Operation ALTHEA and the Operation Commander, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, who is also the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), provided an update on the current situation and his vision and challenges for the future.

On the second day, CHODs had an update on EU Naval Operations Atalanta and Sophia and on the phase transition strategy. They were also provided with an overview of EU actions on Migration.

The Operation Commander of ATALANTA, Major General Rob Magowan CBE, referred to its successful contribution to the maritime security off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean.

Further, Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, pointed out that SOPHIA since 2015, has contributed to saving more than 29.000 people; disabled 345 vessels used by criminal networks and transferred 99 suspected smugglers and traffickers to Italian authorities.

Following, a specific session was dedicated to Training and Advisory Missions. The Committee was briefed by the respective mission Commanders. Namely, on the EU Training Mission in CAR, by Major General Eric Hautecloque-Raysz, on the EU Training Mission in Mali, by Brigadier General Eric Harvent and on the EU Training Mission in Somalia, by Brigadier General Maurizio Morena.

CHODs from Partner Nations (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro and Serbia), were present and were invited to discuss with the 28 EU CHODs the evolution of the EU Training and Advisory Missions.

The Chief of Defence of the Malian Forces, Major General Didier Dacko, was invited to the meeting and participated in the update of the EU Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali, providing his own views.

US AFRICOM Commander, General Thomas D. Waldhauser, was also invited and participated in the discussions.

The Commander in Chief of the Myanmar’s Armed Forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, was the guest speaker of the following session dedicated to partnership where he explained to the Committee the defence landscape and the military efforts for democracy in his country. This was a second achievement of the so called "Military Diplomacy" helping Myanmar to regain its position into the world's political scene.

CHODs also discussed in a specific session on the Global strategy with a view to the state of play of the related Implementation plan. They also discussed relevant topics such as Command and Control, Level of Ambition and Civil Military Structures.

A CHODs only discussion was the final session of the meeting.