European Union battlegroups (EU BGs) are military forces of 1500 combat soldiers under the control of the European Union. There are currently fifteen, mostly multi-national groups who rotate actively so that two are ready for deployment at any one time. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Common Foreign and Security Policy, or CFSP, was established as the second of the three pillars of the European Union in the Maastricht treaty of 1992, and further defined and broadened in the Amsterdam Treaty of 1999. ... The European Union or EU is a supranational and international organization of 27 member states. ... The Common Foreign and Security Policy or CFSP was established as the second of the three pillars of the European Union in the Maastricht treaty of 1992, and further defined and broadened in the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997. ... Javier Solana Madariaga (born July 14, 1942 in Madrid, Spain) is the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Secretary-General of both the Council of the European Union (EU) and the Western European Union (WEU). ... The Common Foreign and Security Policy, or CFSP, was established as the second of the three pillars of the European Union in the Maastricht treaty of 1992, and further defined and broadened in the Amsterdam Treaty of 1999. ... The European Security and Defence Policy or ESDP is a major element of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar of the European Union (EU). ... The European Defence Initiative is a proposal for enhanced European Union defence cooperation presented by France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg in Brussels on 29 April 2004. ... The European Security and Defence Policy or ESDP is considered a major element of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar of the European Union (EU). ... 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The European Union Satellite Centre (EUSC) was set up in 2002 in order to replace the Western Union Satellite Centre and thus represents a part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union EU, and more specifically to the Common Foreign and Security... We dont have an article called European Union Military Committee Start this article Search for European Union Military Committee in. ... More on the Council of the European Union; General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union; Private office; Departments attached to the Secretary-General/High Representative; See also Military of the European Union External links http://www. ... European defence procurement refers to the collective armaments purchasing polices of European nations. ... The European Union is not a state and does not have its own dedicated military forces, although there are a number of multi-national military and peacekeeping forces which are ultimately under the command of the EU. An early attempt (1952) to form a European Defence Community failed, and no... This article is about the European Union military capability. ... EUFOR former Commander General David Leakey. ... The European Gendarmerie Force or EGF was launched by an agreement between five members of the European Union (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands) and its purpose was the creation of a European intervention force which would have military police (gendarmerie) functions, and be specialized in crisis management. ... The badge of the Eurocorps Eurocorps is a force which consists of up to 60,000 soldiers drawn from the armies of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain. ... The European Security and Defence Policy or ESDP is a major element of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar of the European Union (EU). ...  â€¢  â€¢  â€¢ Membership 10 member states 6 associate member states 5 observer countries 7 associate partner countries Establishment Treaty of Brussels  -  Signed 17 March 1948  The Western European Union (WEU) is a partially dormant European defence and security organization, established on the basis of the Treaty of Brussels of 1948 with the... This article is about the military alliance. ... The battlegroup is the basic building block of an armys fighting formation. ...

The battlegroups reached full operational capacity on 1 January 2007. They are based on existing ad hoc missions that the Union has undertaken and has been described by some as a new "standing army" for Europe.^[1] In 2004, Kofi Annan welcomed the plans and emphasised the value and importance of the battlegroups in helping the UN deal with troublespots.^[2] is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1997 to January 1, 2007, serving two five-year terms. ...

Background

The initial ideas for the Battle Groups began at the European Council summit on 10-11 December 1999 in Helsinki. The Council produced the Headline Goal 2003 and specified the need for a rapid response capability that members should provide in small forces at high readiness. The idea was reiterated at a Franco-British summit on 4 February 2003 in Le Touquet which highlighted as a priority the need to improve rapid response capabilities, "including the initial deployment of land, sea and air forces within 5-10 days." This was again described as essential in the "Headline Goal 2010". This article deals with the meeting of European Union leaders. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the year. ... Location of Helsinki in Northern Europe Coordinates: , Country Province Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Charter 1550 Capital city 1812 Government  - City manager Jussi Pajunen Area  - City 187. ... Austria Poland Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech   Rep. ... This article is about the country. ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, commonly referred to as Le Touquet, is a coastal town and commune of the Pas-de-Calais département, in northern France. ...

Operation Artemis in 2003 showed an EU rapid reaction and deployment of forces in a short time scale - with the EU going from Crisis Management Concept to operation launch in just three weeks, then taking a further 20 days for substantial deployment. Its success provided a template for the future rapid response deployments allowing the idea to be considered more practically. The following Franco-British summit in November of that year stated that, building on the experience of the operation, the EU should be able and willing to deploy forces within 15 days in response to a UN request. It called specifically for "battlegroup sized forces of around 1500 land forces, personnel, offered by a single nation or through a multinational or framework nation force package. Operation Artemis was a short-term EU-led military mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ...

On 10 February 2004, France, Germany and the United Kingdom released a paper outlining the "Battlegroup Concept". The document proposed a number of groups based on Artemis that would be autonomous, consisting of 1500 personnel and deployable within 15 days. These would be principally in response to UN requests at short notice and can be rapidly tailored to specific missions. They would concentrate on bridging operations, preparing the group before a larger force relieved them, for example UN or regional peacekeepers under UN mandate. The plan was approved by all groups in 2004 and in November that year the first thirteen battlegroups were pledged with associated niche capabilities.^[3] is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Tasks

The groups are intended to be deployed on the ground within 5-10 days of approval from the Council. It must be sustainable for at least 30 days, which could be extended to 120 days, if resupplied.^[4]

The Battlegroups are designed to deal with a those tasks faced by the ESDP, namely the Petersberg tasks and the tasks from the European Security Strategy: Humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping, tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking (the Petersburg tasks), joint disarmament operations, support for 3rd countries in combating terrorism, security sector reform operations as part of broader institution building (the European Security Strategy tasks). The European Security and Defence Policy or ESDP is considered a major element of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar of the European Union (EU). ...

Planners claim the battlegroups have enough range to deal with all those tasks, although such tasks ought to be limited in "size and intensity" due to the small nature of the groups. Such missions may include conflict prevention, evacuation, aid deliverance or initial stabilisation. In general these would fall into three categories; brief support of existing troops, rapid deployment preparing the ground for larger forces or small scale rapid response missions.^[5]

Structure

A battlegroup is considered to be the smallest self-sufficient military unit that can be deployed and sustained in a theatre of operation. EU Battlegroups are composed of approximately 1500 troops; plus command and support services. The battlegroup is the basic building block of an armys fighting formation. ... In warfare, a theater or theatre is normally used to define a specific geographic area within which armed conflict occurs. ...

There is no fixed structure, a 'standard' group would include a headquarters company, three infantry companies and corresponding support personnel. Specific units might include mechanised infantry, support groups (e.g. fire or medial support), the combination of which allows independent action by the group on a variety of tasks. The main forces, extra support and "force headquarters" (front line command) are contained within the battlegroup "package", in addition there is the operation headquarters, located in Europe.^[6] The European Security and Defence Policy or ESDP is a major element of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar of the European Union (EU). ...

Contributions

Larger member states will generally contribute their own battlegroups, while smaller members are expected to create common groups. Each group will have a 'lead nation' or 'framework nation' which will take operational command, based on the model set up during the EU's peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Operation Artemis). Each group will also be associated with a headquarters. Two non-EU NATO countries, Norway and Turkey, participate in a group each. Operation Artemis was a short-term EU-led military mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ...

The initial thirteen battlegroups^[7] were proposed on 22 November 2005, further groups have joined them. The declared groups are as follows: is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

*=Usually, not always permanent, depends on deployment. Battlegroup 107 or BG-107 is a former European Union battlegroup. ... The Spanish Italian Amphibious Force (SIAF) is one of many European Union battle groups. ... The Nordic Battle Group (NBG) is one of eighteen European Union Battlegroups. ... Cyprus signs Balkan battle group for EU Categories: | | ...

The Visegrád Group (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia) are considering a joint battlegroup as of April 2007^[16]. There are plans to extend the concept to air and naval forces, although not to the extent of having a single standing force on standby, but scattered forces which could be rapidly assembled.^[17] Political map of Visegrád Group The Visegrád Group (Czech: ; Hungarian: ; Polish: ; Slovak: ), also called the Visegrád Four (Slovak: ) or V4, is an alliance of four Central European states: Czech Republic Hungary Poland Slovakia The Visegrád Group originated in a summit meeting of the heads of state...

Denmark has an opt-out clause in its accession treaty and is not obliged to participate in the common defence policy. Also Malta currently does not participate in any battlegroup.  member state with at least one opt-out  member state with a de facto opt-out  member state without opt-outs Currently, five European Union member states have (or will have) opt-outs from certain parts of the European Union structure, namely:  Denmark (four)  Ireland (two)  Poland (one)  Sweden (one... In military science, defense (or defence) is the art of preventing an enemy from conquering territory. ...

Niche capabilities

The following Member States have also offered niche capabilities in support of the EU Battlegroups^[18]:

• Cyprus (medical group)
• Lithuania (a water purification unit)
• Greece (the Athens Sealift Co-ordination Centre)
• France (structure of a multinational and deployable Force Headquarters)

Further details on specific contributions

• Sweden and Finland announced the creation of a joint Nordic Battle Group. To make up the required 1500 number, they also urged Norway to contribute in the battlegroup despite the country not being part of the EU. Recently, the number has been raised to 2400 troops with Sweden providing 2000 of these.^[19]

• Finland is expected to commit troops trained to combat chemical and biological weapons, among other units such as a mortar company.

• Lithuania is expected to offer experts in water purification.

• Greece is pledging troops with maritime transport skills.

The battlegroups project is not to be confused with the projected Helsinki Headline Goal force, which concerns up to 60,000 soldiers, deployable for at least a year, and take one to two months to deploy. The battlegroups are instead meant for more rapid and shorter deployment in international crises, probably preparing the ground for a larger and more traditional force to replace them in due time. Political map of the Nordic countries and associated territories. ... The Nordic Battle Group (NBG) is one of eighteen European Union Battlegroups. ... Chemical warfare is warfare (and associated military operations) using the toxic properties of chemical substances to kill, injure or incapacitate an enemy. ... Biological warfare, also known as germ warfare, is the use of any organism (bacteria, virus or other disease_causing organism) or toxin found in nature, as a weapon of war. ... US soldier loading a M224 60-mm mortar. ... This article is about the European Union military capability. ...

Standby roster

From 1 January 2005 the battlegroups reached initial operational capacity: at least one battlegroup was on standby every 6 months. The United Kingdom and France each had an operational battlegroup for the first half of 2005, and Italy for the second half. In the first half of 2006, a Franco-German battlegroup operated, and the Spanish Italian Amphibious Battlegroup. In the second half of that year just one battlegroup operated composed of France, Germany and Belgium.^[20] The Spanish Italian Amphibious Force (SIAF) is one of many European Union battle groups. ...

Full operational capacity was reached on 1 January 2007, meaning the Union could undertake two battlegroup sized operations concurrently, or deploy them simultaneously into the same field. The battlegroups rotate every 6 months, the roster from 2007 onwards is as follows^[21];

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Battlegroup 107 or BG-107 is a former European Union battlegroup. ... Potsdam is the capital city of the federal state of Brandenburg in Germany. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... Cyprus signs Balkan battle group for EU Categories: | | ... Larissa (Greek: Λάρισα, Lárisa) is the capital city of the Thessaly periphery of Greece, and capital of the Larissa Prefecture. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nordic battlegroup (NBG) is one of many European Union Battlegroups. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Spanish Italian Amphibious Force (SIAF) is one of many European Union battle groups. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2010 (MMX) will be a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2010 (MMX) will be a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2011 (MMXI) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Battlegroup 107 or BG-107 is a former European Union battlegroup. ... 2011 (MMXI) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) came into being on July 20, 2001 as a replacement to the Western European Union Institute for Security Studies, and thus represents a part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union EU, and more... The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) came into being on July 20, 2001 as a replacement to the Western European Union Institute for Security Studies, and thus represents a part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union EU, and more... The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) came into being on July 20, 2001 as a replacement to the Western European Union Institute for Security Studies, and thus represents a part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union EU, and more... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) came into being on July 20, 2001 as a replacement to the Western European Union Institute for Security Studies, and thus represents a part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union EU, and more... The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) came into being on July 20, 2001 as a replacement to the Western European Union Institute for Security Studies, and thus represents a part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union EU, and more... The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) came into being on July 20, 2001 as a replacement to the Western European Union Institute for Security Studies, and thus represents a part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union EU, and more... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) came into being on July 20, 2001 as a replacement to the Western European Union Institute for Security Studies, and thus represents a part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union EU, and more...

External links

• Article: EU Battle Groups 2007 – where next
• Article: EU-Battlegroups - Stand und Probleme der Umsetzung in Deutschland und für die EU
• EU factsheet on Battlegroups
• EU Battlegroups
• Inauguration of the Nordic Battle Group Headquarters HQ NBG
• Headline Goal 2010. European Union (2004-06-18). Retrieved on 2006-08-26.
• The presentation of the Eurocorps-Foreign Legion concept + EU battle groups at the European parliament in June 2003