The 1^st EU Congress on Military Health Services took place in Madrid from 6 to 8 October 2021, at the facilities of the Centre for Higher National Defence Studies (CESEDEN). It was organized by the Spanish Armed Forces Military Medical Services in coordination with the Technical Office of the Undersecretary of Defence and with the invaluable collaboration of the General Secretariat of Defence Policy (SEGENPOL), the Spanish Defence Staff (EMAD), the Armies, and the Military Emergency Unit (UME).

The global COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated our societies, has also underlined the value of the Armed Forces in supporting the civilian population in health emergencies. Specifically, the Military Health Services of all EU countries have played an important role in the fight against COVID-19 by maintaining health support, which is essential for European Union soldiers deployed on missions and operations.

It is necessary to improve cooperation at a European level to provide this service efficiently and effectively, increasing the preparedness and resilience of the European Union for future pandemics and evaluating the effectiveness of its crisis management missions and operations.

Likewise, it has proven necessary to establish the mechanisms, capacities, and procedures to achieve a common and practical approach. The military contribution, in particular Military Health Services, helps to ensure the resilience of nations and their organizations, including those of security and defence.

The Congress analysed the experiences gained during this health crisis, the most efficient way to support the civilian population in future health crises, the operational challenges and other aspects that nations considered opportune to share and debate.

Under the motto “UBI CONCORDIA, IBI VICTORIA”, “Where unity is, victory is”, this Congress has been an opportunity to create a network among Military Health Services, with the aim of identifying the best practices and lessons learned in the responses to health crises and expanding military health support, as well as strengthening the cooperation at a European level.

The main topics chosen for discussion, all of them related to the support offered by the Armed Forces against pandemics and operational challenges, were the following:

Taking into account the uncertainty of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and initially planned in person, the Congress was organized in a hybrid format: in-person and online, structured in discussion panels where the nations had the opportunity to make a brief presentation followed by a debate. English was the official language chosen for the Congress.

Eleven foreign delegations participated: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Slovakia, France, Greece, Italy, the -Netherlands, -Portugal and Romania, with a total of thirty-five attendees. To respect the capacity limitations imposed by the pandemic, the -Spanish delegation was limited to a maximum of sixty attendees.

Seven Chiefs of Military Medical Services or their -representatives were present among the congressmen: Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Congress development could be followed through live-streaming via CESEDEN’s YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5cXL0vK7zE

Figura 1. CESEDEN’s Youtube channel broadcasting the opening ceremony of the congress.