ESP CHOD attends the ceremony to welcome Poland as sixth EUROCORPS Framework Nation

• The ceremony was held at the 'Aubert de Vincelles' Barracks in Strasbourg

Chief of Defence Staff (CHOD), Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón, attended the ceremony of Poland's adhesion as the sixth Eurocorps Framework Nation at the 'Aubert de Vincelles' Barracks in Strasbourg.

The ceremony was presided over by the Commander General of Eurocorps, Lieutenant General Peter Devogelare, and was attended by the Polish Minister of Defence, the five Heads of Defence of the Framework Nations - Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Spain - and other military and civilian authorities. 

In his speech, the Lieutenant General emphasised the importance of this decision for the Eurocorps: 'This accession will lead to an increase in contributions and a strengthening of the Eurocorps'.

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak closed the ceremony with a speech to the Eurocorps soldiers in which he stressed that this accession is 'a new chapter of Poland's participation in the structure'.

Poland became a Eurocorps partner nation in 2002. At present, the Polish contingent is composed of more than 60 soldiers, a number that will grow significantly to 120.