Frequently asked Questions

What is CHENS?

CHENS is an acronym for the CHiefs of European NavieS. By definition, CHENS is an informal, independent and maybe the only non-political forum whose membership includes the Chief of Navy of each European maritime nation that is either a member of NATO or the EU.

Who are the CHENS members?

CThe two first meetings of 1990 were attended by BELGIUM, DENMARK, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, SPAIN and UNITED KINGDOM. Since the meeting of 2007 in Stockholm, 24 CHENS members are attending the meeting (BELGIUM, BULGARIA, CYPRUS, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, IRELAND, ITALY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, MALTA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, POLAND, PORTUGAL, ROMANIA, SLOVENIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, TURKEY, UNITED KINGDOM).

Looking on the CHENS crest, it presents a part of our planet, including the coordinates and the contours of the European continent. The focus is the 'staranchor' as a symbol for communities related with the sea and showing the maritime gravity of CHENS. The stars in the anchor represent the high rank of the CHENS members. The amount of the stars is only in relation to heraldic rules in order to mirror one side of the staranchor to the other. The writing designation 'CHENS Chiefs OF European Navies' with the slogan 'Sea the Future' forms the framework of the logo. The predominant colour is held in white and maritime blue, whereby the text and the anchor coloured in gold-yellow form the contrast.​

When and where was CHENS established?

The initial forum begun in 1990 with the presents of a few Chiefs of Navies (CHEN) but the official forum with its presence form and name (CHENS) was endorsed in the 2007 meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.

On 06.06.1990 Admiral Oswald, First Sea Lord invited the CNS of northern European navies including an observer of USNEU for an informal meeting. In the same year, on 02.11.1990 encouraged by the success of the June meeting, the CNS of Southern European navies came together on invitation of CNS Italy in Rome, Admiral Oswald was also present. At the 1994 CHEN meeting in Portsmouth the organisation and meeting cycle is formalised. It was decided to meet once a year.is an acronym for the CHiefs of European NavieS.

What is the aim of CHENS?

CHENS will continuously promote understanding between navies of the member countries, to examine issues of common and mutual interest and to increase awareness of the maritime domain in member countries.

The maritime domain and navies often are 'over the horizon' and out of sight of the general public of member countries. The common experience of the member navies has been that naval and maritime matters tend to be marginalised as a consequence. The promotion of naval points of view within strategic for a wider maritime community is therefore considered to be an important function of CHENS. The intent of the papers produced by CHENS is to capture the professional opinion of senior European naval flag officers in a form that is easily disseminated. In order to achieve their goals the CHENS forum operates at a number of levels.

When do the CHENS members meet?

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.

What is the functionality of CHENS

During the 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.

In which manner is CHENS working on subjects?

Temporary CHENS working groups are regularly initiated and tasked to examine specific topics, work on strategies, and 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.​

Which are the different working Groups of CHENS?

Maritime Security Operations Working Group CHENS MSO WG

Best Practices Maritime Security Operations CHENS MSO Sub-WG

Maritime Cooperation with Africa Working Group CHENS MCA WG

Maritime Strategies Dialogue Working Group CHENS MSD WG

Protection of Naval Units in Ports Working Group CHENS PNUP WG which is the only virtual

working group and its members exchange informations and ideas through our web page.​

How the network CHENS does persists between the annual meetings?

The annual CHENS 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 CHENS POC committee (CPC) maintains contact throughout the year and assists in preparations for the annual meetings.

What is CHENS ESYO?

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. ​

What have been the milestones since the establishment of CHENS?

As milestones can be considered the written products of CHENS which are the following:
- MDEJO: Maritime Dimension of European Joint Operations), published in 2002.
- GEMCO: Α Generic European maritime Concept of Operations), published in 2003.
- NUCAT: Navy Utility in Combating Asymmetric Threats, published in 2004.
- ENV 2025: European Naval Vision 2025, published in 2005.
- Interagency Strategy for Maritime Security Operations, published in 2007
- CHENS comments on the EU maritime policy green paper, published in May 2007
- Comparison of the US New Maritime Strategy and the CHENS documents, published in 2008

Do CHENS have a financial budget or a permanent staff?

CHENS has neither firmly assigned financial budgetary appropriations nor a permanent personnel staff. Each participating state bears the cost themselves and makes temporally, if this is necessary, personnel available.​

Where were the CHENS meetings and which subjects were discussed?

  • On June 6th, 1990, Admiral Oswald, First Sea Lord invited the CNS of northern European navies including an observer of USNEU for an informal meeting. In the same year, on November 2, encouraged by the success of the June meeting, the CNS of Southern European navies came together on invitation of CNS Italy in Rome, Admiral Oswald was also present.
  • In June 1991 Admiral Coatana, CNS France invites all WEU naval chiefs for a meeting.
  • In 1992 in Den Haag the meeting of Europes naval chiefs takes place in two steps. In the first half of the meeting the chiefs of navies members of WEU come together which are in the second part completed by all European NATO navies not member of WEU plus an observer of US N. (12 CNS + US N)
  • In 1993 this same 12 navy chiefs and the observer of US N meet in Lisbon.
  • At the 1994 CHEN meeting in Portsmouth the organisation and meeting cycle is formalised. It is decided to meet once a year. Only CNS personally are admitted to attend the meeting. They should normally be accompanied by an officer as point of contact. The possibility to be represented by another flag officer should not be granted.
  • 1995, Bruges, Belgium, main issue was 'European Maritime Cooperation'
  • 1996 Paris New Threats, new Responses Attitude towards new European partners New Perspectives for European Navies.
  • In 1997 Sweden and Finland enter EU which brings CHENS to 14 members + US N as observer.
  • At the 1998 meeting in Athens the dispositions decided in 1994 in Portsmouth where amended.
  • 1999 Berlin Change and re-orientation in European Navies
  • 2000 Rome Cooperation and training Operations Naval reviews
  • 2001 Cork main issue 'Generation of European Multi National Maritime Force'
  • 2002 Bergen main issue 'Asymmetric Warfare'
  • 2003 Helsinki Generic Maritime Concept of Operations GEMCO
  • 2004 Madrid Naval Utility Countering Asymmetric Threat NUCAT
  • 2005 Gdynia European Naval Vision 2025 ENV 2025
  • 2006 Antalya Maritime Security Operations V-RMTC
  • 2007 Stockholm Endorsement Interagency Strategy for MSO, CYP and SVN first participation
  • 2008 Varna - Following themes are discussed:
    - CHENS Protection of Naval units in Port
    - CHENS US Maritime Dialogue
    - Aspects of European Maritime Affairs
    - Maritime Security Operations
  • 2009 Limassol - Maritime Security and Maritime Visibility
  • 2010 Copenhagen - Maritime Capacity Building in Africa and Maritim Operational Concept
  • 2011 Paris - to be issued​

Which are the different levels of CHENS work?

At the lowest level CHENS organise an annual weeklong seminar for junior officers called the European Seminar for Young Officers (ESYO). This seminar explores topical subjects of naval interest and at the same time generates mutual understanding between the individual participants.

At an intermediate level CHENS organises working groups to examine specific topics and to generate a common position that reflects the agreed position of member navies. The WG are in principle chaired by a senior officer in the rank of a captain.

At the top level, at its annual meeting, CHENS discusses subjects of common interest, to specify topics for examination by working groups and to 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 further 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. The annual meeting is supported by the 'Points Of Contact (POC) Committee' (CPC), which consists of senior officers from the Naval Headquarters staff of each Chief of Navy. The CPC maintains contact throughout the year and assists in preparations for the annual meeting.

CHENS Navies and their visibility?

The maritime domain and navies are 'over the horizon' and out of sight of the general public of member countries. The common experience of the member navies has been that naval and maritime matters tend to be marginalised as a consequence. The promotion of naval points of view within policy and strategic fora and the wider maritime community is therefore considered to be an important function of CHENS. The intent of the papers produced by CHENS is to capture the professional opinion of senior European naval flag officers in a form that is easily disseminated.

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