CHENS - Chiefs of European Navies



		About CHENS (2) Functionality of CHENS CHENS meetings take place annually, usually in the month of May in one of the CHENS member countries. They are hosted by the current chairman. Chairmanship changes annually on a rotational basis. During these annual meetings, the Chiefs of European Navies discuss subjects of common interest, specify topics for examination by working groups and finalise (sign off) on the work of previously established studies. In addition, they receive briefs on, and discuss a wide range of maritime issues in order to foster common understanding of, and promote an agreed approach to those issues. The forum also facilitates bi-lateral discussions between Flag Officers during the course of the meeting. Due to its informal nature, each Chief of Navy attends the meeting as the senior flag officer of his respective navy and not as an official representative of his country. These annual meetings are supported by a standing Points Of Contact (POC) committee, the main working body of CHENS, which consists of senior officers from the Naval Headquarters staff of each member Navy. The POC committee maintains contact throughout the year and assists in preparations for the annual meetings. Temporary CHENS working groups are regularly initiated and tasked to examine specific topics, work on strategies, produce studies and to generate a common position that reflects the agreed position of member navies. All CHENS member navies and in some cases also observers are invited to participate in these working groups. Since 1999 CHENS organise an annual weeklong 'European Seminar for Young Officers' (ESYO) for junior officers of CHENS member navies. This seminar explores topical subjects of naval interest and at the same time generates mutual understanding between the individual participants. Recent Documents Several documents have been prepared within the CHENS Working Groups and confirmed at the annual CHENS meetings. The intent of these papers is to capture the professional opinion of senior European naval flag officers in a form that is easily disseminated. Latest documents and strategic papers edited by CHENS: 2002 'Maritime Dimension of European Joint Operations – MDEJO' 2003 'A Generic European Maritime Concept of Operations - GEMCO' 2004 'Navy Utility in Combating Asymmetric Threat - NUCAT' 2005 'European Naval Vision 2025 - ENV 2025' 2007 'Interagency Strategy for Maritime Security Operations' previous

Recent Documents Several documents have been prepared within the CHENS Working Groups and confirmed at the annual CHENS meetings. The intent of these papers is to capture the professional opinion of senior European naval flag officers in a form that is easily disseminated.

Recent Documents
Several documents have been prepared within the CHENS Working Groups and confirmed at the annual CHENS meetings. The intent of these papers is to capture the professional opinion of senior European naval flag officers in a form that is easily disseminated.