Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe government offered Camp Casteau, a 2 km² Belgian Army summer training camp near Mons, which was an area in serious need of additional economic investment. In September 1966, NATO agreed that Belgium should host SHAPE at Casteau. SHAPE closed its facility at Rocquencourt near Paris on 30 March 1967, and the next day held a ceremony to mark the opening of the new headquarters at Casteau. The drawdown of the British Mediterranean Fleet, the military difficulties of the politically decided command structure, and the withdrawal of the French from the military command structure forced a rearrangement of the command arrangements
Roberto Cesaretti Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in October 2002. From 2005 to 2008 he commanded Allied Maritime Command Naples. After his retirement he was appointed Managing Director of Marconi spa. Roberto Cesaretti Vice Admiral Roberto Cesaretti is a retired Italian naval officer who served as Deputy Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. He commanded the minesweepers "Mango" and "Sandalo' and in 1984 commanded Italian frigate Zeffiro before attending the US Naval War College. In 1990-91 he commanded Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. He was promoted to Flag rank on 31 December 1994. From October 1999 to October 2000 he