Brussels, 27/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - During the MILEX '08 exercise organised from 18-27 June in Rome, the EU activated one of its five operations headquarters (OHQ). The OHQ was recognised as able to command the autonomous military operations of the EU of up to 40,000 deployed on external theatres of operations. At present, the EU has two possibilities for ensuring autonomous command - i.e. outside the framework of NATO - for operations conducted as part of European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) - either from Brussels from the operations centre brought into service during the MILEX '07 exercise last June (see EUROPE 9447), or from one of the five national operations headquarters. Made available to the EU and activated in the event of operations, these military staff headquarters are implemented by France (OHQ Mont Valérien, which currently heads the EU-led operation in Chad and Central African Republic), by Germany (OHQ Potsdam which conducts EUFOR DRC), by Italy (OHQ in question is located at the Centocelle airport on the edge of Rome), by Greece in Larissa (OHQ to be activated next year during the MILEX '09 exercise), and by the United Kingdom in Northwood. (A.By./transl.jl)