Brussels, 21/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Union will conduct a military exercise (MILEX 05) from Tuesday 22 November to 1 December 2005 in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). “The EU is conducting this type of exercise (MILEX) for the first time (…) and it will be the first time that an EU Operation Headquarters (OHQ) will have been fully activated as part of an EU exercise”, said Lieutenant General Jean-Paul Perruche, Director General of the EU Military Staff (EUMS). The exercise will concentrate on the interaction between an EU OHQ in Paris, France, and an EU Force Headquarters (FHQ) in Ulm, Germany, in the context of an autonomous EU-led military operation. MILEX 05 will be based on a fictitious crisis scenario depicting a situation on a fictitious island (Atlantia). Given the unstable situation that could develop into hostilities, the scenario recommends an autonomous EU operation that requires the deployment of military force. No troops will be deployed in the exercise. MILEX 05 will be coordinated from Brussels under the direction of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) which is supported by the EUMS, and under the guidance of the EU's Political and Security Committee (SC). General Jean-Paul Perruche points out that “some 450 'players' and supporting personnel are expected to take part in what will be a major step forward in the EUMS' involvement in the planning and conduct of large-scale EU crisis management exercises”. The Council decision to schedule the exercise is carried out under the operational authority of the High Representative, Javier Solana. The Director General of the EUMS is responsible for preparing implementation of the exercise.