XV INTERNATIONAL CIVIL-MILITARY COOPERATION FORUM

The NATO event to share experiences and CIMIC projects between civil and military partners was held in Treviso

Treviso, June 29th, 2022.
The XV "CIMIC Unit Commanders' Conference" took place in the splendid setting of the Sant’Artemio Auditorium in Treviso.
The conference, held in the twentieth year since the establishment of the unit and which brought together about 130 participants from 22 different countries, represented a unique opportunity for sharing and discussing on issues related to cooperation and interaction between the civilian and military components, nowadays an essential aspect to be considered and developed in all operational scenarios. The Multinational CIMIC Group (MNCG), the joint and combined unit stationed in Motta di Livenza and led by Colonel Mattia Zuzzi, organized the event, on input by the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE), HQ to which is affiliated, with the aim of strengthening personal and professional bonds between participants.
The objective of this year's conference was to explore the theme of "Building trustful relationship between different actors through effective interaction: Civil and Military aspects", thus outlining the essential elements of both civil and military interaction between different state and non-state actors, in order to create stable and resistant relationships over time.
In the current operational scenarios, the dividing line between civil and military spheres is increasingly difficult to draw: in this regard it is paramount to establish collaborative and fruitful ties, respecting the roles and mandates of all the actors, coordinating in the best possible way existing efforts and resources in a mission.
The event was attended by several guest speakers from the civil and military world who discussed and explored the issue of effective relationships and social interactions in different working environments.
Among them there were the coach of the Italian men's volleyball team, Mister Ferdinando De Giorgi, the former British Ambassador to Russia, Sir Tony Brenton, the President of the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association, Doctor Juxhina Sotiri Gjoni, the Deputy President of the Allianz Bank FA, Doctor Mario Ruta in addition to many representatives of the United Nations, NATO and International, Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations. The Supreme Headquarters Allied Power in Europe Assistant Chief of Staff of the civil-military cooperation branch, Brigadier General Bernard Lebrun, presided over the event. Colonel Zuzzi closed the conference underlining that “... the event in addition to giving prestige to the CIMIC community represented a hotbed of reflections and sharing on issues of great impact for the current world scenarios. The international level of the audience has also contributed to making the issue more stimulating through the contribution of valuable contributions and shared experiences. Today the CIMIC operational function represents a nodal fulcrum for the management of international crises”

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