North Macedonia joins the EU combat group HELBROC, which is under the direct control of the Council of the European Union and is part of the Union’s common security and defense policy. The Greek-led combat group HELBROC also includes Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Serbia and Ukraine, the defense ministry said.
The Army of the Republic of North Macedonia will participate in HELBROC with a light infantry platoon of up to 43 people as part of the First Air Mobile Company (Airmobile), Deputy Commander of the company and non-commissioned officer for operations at the HELBROC headquarters.
Announcing this important news to the newly recruited professional soldiers in the barracks in Veles, Minister Radmila Sekerinska said that the participation in HELBROC emphasizes the contribution of the Army to the European integration process of the Republic of North Macedonia.
– The army and defense are important not only for our NATO membership but also for our second strategic priority – EU membership. The government has confirmed that Northern Macedonia will join the multinational EU combat group HELBROC. “By this we show that our ambitions did not end with NATO membership, but increased and we will be an argument plus for our EU membership,” said Sekerinska.
Missions that may include HELBROC include peacekeeping operations, separation of warring parties, stabilization, reconstruction and military counseling of third countries, conflict prevention and evacuation operations, and humanitarian operations assistance.
Source: MIA
