EU: Rapid reaction force "pledged"
01 January 2001
On 20 November EU Defence Ministers held a "pledging" conference in Brussels at which they formally committed themselves to provide manpower and equipment for a 60,000 strong rapid reaction force. The force, which will have the capacity to be marshalled within 60 days, is designed for military intervention for up to a year as far as 4000 km from Europe's shores. Since the force would need to be periodically relieved the Europeans pledged, in the "Force Catalogue", at least 100,000 personnel from which the rapid reaction forces could be drawn. About 400 fighter aircraft and 100 warships were also promised. The force would officially complement NATO and would be employed in situations in which the USA does not wish to be involved.
The largest contributor will be Germany with 13,500 ground troops while the UK has committed 12,500 and France 12,000. Italy and Spain will each contribute up to 6,000 and the Dutch 5,000. From the EU nations only Denmark refused to take part. A 100?strong European Military Staff should be in place in January under the command of German Army Lt Gen Klaus Schuwirth with British General Graham Messervy?Whiting as deputy. Elements of the EU force could start being used from late 2001, but the likelihood of the EU going alone into central Europe shortly after 2003 is considered very small in NATO?circles.
The most difficult side of the project is, for the moment, its relation to NATO. Complex talks are taking place between NATO and EU officials. Non EU?member Turkey has threatened to veto employment of NATO assets for the European force and block a NATO?EU agreement if it is not fully involved in the planning from the beginning. According to a French diplomat, "they don't want an EU crisis mission in Cyprus without NATO, plain and simple". The French for their part have made clear that although they do not want a fully independent European planning cell, existing French or UK planning centres could easily manage EU operations. They do not want the US to be involved in that planning.
William Hague, UK opposition, announced he will end the UK's commitment to the force if elected. Another shortcoming is the lack of equipment in essential areas like strategic airlift, combat search and rescue, precision?guided munitions, suppression of enemy air defences and electronic warfare. It will be expensive to fill the gaps that the Americans would leave if they withdrew from an operation. A detailed plan on equipment acquisition and burden?sharing will be made soon.
Jane's Defence Weekly 29.11.00, 20.12.20, 17.01.01, (JAC Lewis, Luke Hill, Nick Cook)