Lieutenant General Sean Clancy gets top job at EU Military Committee

Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces is Lieutenant General Sean Clancy Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces has been appointed as the first Irish chairman of the EU Military Committee.

Lieutenant General Sean Clancy will take up the role in May 2025.

Lt Gen Clancy will remain as Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces until then, at which point he will have completed almost four years at the top of Ireland’s military.

The EUMC is the highest military body within the European Council, and is composed of the Chiefs of Defence of the 27 member states, who are regularly represented by their permanent military representatives.

It is the forum for military consultation and cooperation between the EU member states in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management.

It directs all military activities within the EU framework, in particular the planning and execution of military missions and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the development of military capabilities.

Lt Gen Clancy will also be regularly tasked with giving military advice and making recommendations to the Political and Security Committee of the Council.

The chairman acts as the military adviser to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

This extends to attending council meetings with defence and security implications.

The chair also acts as the primary point of contact for the Operation Commanders of the EU’s military operations. 

The appointment of the chair of the EUMC occurs every three years with each member state having the opportunity to nominate a representative.

The other nominees for this election were from Poland and Slovenia.

Voting was conducted by secret ballot with each member state casting a first and second preference. 

The role will require Lt Gen Clancy to be promoted to the rank of General (4-star).