In order to prepare the Multi-Cooperative Exercise 2017, a Main Planning Conference was held on the 8^th of March in the Comando in Capo della Squadra Navale, in Rome, with the participation of a delegation of the Royal Moroccan Navy.

In this meeting a particular emphasis was given on the planning and evaluation of the training program for the 2017-2019 period as well the analysis of potential EUROMARFOR employment in a gradually challenging maritime scenario.

On the 16^th september 2016, Vice Admiral Donato Marzano has assumed the Command in Chief of the Italian Navy Fleet (CINCNAV) and the Command of European

Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR Operational Commander or COMEUROMARFOR), relieving Vice Admiral Filippo Maria Foffi.

On the 22^nd of  June, 2016,  the Political-Military Working Group (POLMIL WG) of the EUROFORCES meet in Madrid, under the Spanish presidency, as Secretary nation of the Interministerial High Level Committee (CIMIN).

The meeting, coordinated by the Spanish Joint Staff, took place at the Spanish Chief of Defense Headquarters, with the participation representatives of the four member countries and of the Operational Commander of EUROMARFOR.

In the last month the Portuguese corvette João Roby participated in the exercise Multicooperative with the Tunisian Navy, organized by EUROMARFOR, and in the ITALIAN MINEX 16. In both exercises under the EUROMARFOR flag.

After four days sailing the ship is now arriving at Lisbon, but not to rest. The ship has already a new mission, she is underway to participate in the exercise Swordfish 2016. 

On June 10^th the Marina Militare Italiana celebretes one of the most important pages of its history: the Premuda action.

Commemorations of the National Day of Portugal highlighted by a military parade and by the President’s traditional speech.

It has been a very demanding week for the ships' crews that were engaged in several mine warfare training missions. For the detection of the decoys, the crews have been using the sonars of the ships, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV), Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) and special divers.

#Marine Nationale #Marina Militare #Marinha Portuguesa #Armada Española

The ships FS Capricorne (France), ITS Milazzo (Italy), NRP João Roby (Portugal) and ESPS Duero (Spain) departed La Spezia to participate in the exercise Italian Minex 16. These ships are integrated in a EUROMARFOR Task Group. The photos are from the activation ceremony of the force, with representatives of the four ships and the international staff.

An EUROMARFOR Task Group composed by 1 Corvette NRP Joao Roby (the Flagship) and 3 MHC, FS Capricorne, ITS Milazzo and ESPS Duero, will be activated from the 6^th to the 18^th  of June in order to participate in the exercise Italian Minex 16.

During the last days an EUROMARFOR Task Group has been working with the Tunisian National Navy inside the Tunisia National Waters.

The ITS Borsini, NRP João Roby, ESPS Duero and TNS Hamilcon were engaged in several exercises in the domain of Maritime Security.

Held on the 2^nd of June every year, it’s one of the country’s most important holidays; up there with the 4^th of July in the US, and the 14^th of July in France. Rome Republic Day has been celebrated with a military parade at the presence of the President of the Italian Repubblic,  the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, the CHOD and the Chief of the Armed Forces. This parade has taken place on the Via dei Fori Imperiali.

From 31^st of May to 2^nd of June is underway a Multicooperative Exercise between EUROMARFOR and the Tunisian Navy.

The ships of EUROMARFOR (the Italian Ocean Patrol Vessel Borsini, the flagship, the Portuguese corvette João Roby and Spanish Mine Hunter Duero) arrived yesterday (31 MAY) very early in the vicinity of Tunis harbour to the “rendez-vous” with Tunisian fast patrol boat Himilcon.

From 31st of May to 2nd of June a EUROMARFOR Task Group is activated to participate in an exercise with the Tunisian Navy. The commander of the task group is Commander (Italian Navy) Giuseppe Villani assisted by an international staff.

The Portuguese corvette João Roby left the naval base and is sailing to meet other ships from France, Italy and Spain that are going to participate in the Multicooperative Exercise (MCE) with Tunisia, organized by EUROMARFOR.

The Portuguese Navy, tracing back to the 12^th century, is the oldest continuously serving navy in the world. The first known battle of the Portuguese Navy was in 1180, during the reign of Portugal's first king, Afonso I of Portugal, but the date chosen for the anniversary was 20^th of May to remember the greatest achievement of exploration voyages that were attained by Portuguese explorers, namely Vasco da Gama, who in 20^th of May of 1498 arrived to India, becoming the European discoverer of the sea route to India.

On 18 May 2016, the first of two 2016 EUROMARFOR technical Sub Working Group meeting was hosted by Italian Navy and chaired by Spanish Navy, as secretariat Nation.

On 15 May 2016, the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR) celebrates the 21 years of existence.

The Flagship of the Commander of EMF group for Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri, returned to La Spezia. The Commander of the First Italian Naval Group, Rear Admiral Francesco Sollitto, welcomed the Ship after 6 months of anti-piracy activities in the Indian Ocean.

Wednesday, 23rd of March, the Rear Admiral (Italian Navy) Stefano Barbieri handed over the EU Naval Force Somalia command to the Rear Admiral (German Navy) Jan Christian Kaack, in Djibouti. At the same moment Rear Admiral Barbieri completed his mission as EUROMARFOR Task Group Commander.

At the end of 2015, Operation Atalanta protected a UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO) vessel, MV Kestrel, from potential pirate attack as it deployed twenty five Fishing Aggregation Devices (FADs) off the coast of Somalia.