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EU Defence Ministers finalise 'Battle Groups'
22.11.2004 - 14:12 CET | By Andrew Beatty
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – EU Defence Ministers have agreed to create 13 ‘battle groups’ by 2007 to be deployed to the World’s hotspots.
Meeting in Brussels on Monday (21 November), Ministers agreed to a series of groups which can be used in peacekeeping operations up to 6,000 kilometres away.
The 1,000-1,500 strong forces are expected to be able to be rapidly deployable - 10 days after a unanimous decision from EU member states has been taken and a battle plan created.
In a statement, the Dutch Presidency said that the creation of the groups would help the EU to "deal better with threats and global challenges".
"The European Union has entered a new stage in the process of strengthening military capabilities," the EU’s 25 defence ministers said in a statement.
Diplomats say that the force is expected to be used under UN mandated operations, preparing the ground for large UN operations that take longer to deploy.
They will also be able to take on smaller missions independently.
The first groups, it is hoped, will be ready in 2005-2006.
France, Italy, Spain and the UK will form their own groups and another nine groups are to be formed:
- France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain;
- France and Belgium;
- Germany the Netherlands and Finland;
- Germany, Czech Republic and Austria;
- Italy, Hungary and Slovenia;
- Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal;
- Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania;
- Sweden, Finland and Norway (not an EU member);
- The UK and the Netherlands.
Ireland has said that it will look into the possibility of participating, but did not pledge troops on Monday, while Estonia has said it will take part and will continue consultations.
Austria and the Czech Republic, who on Friday looked like they would not participate, both pledged troops.
Each group will be associated with a force headquarters and will be headed by a ‘lead nation’, which will take up operational command.
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