page_title: EU Battlegroup
section_title: Early development (2005–2015)
hierarchical_section_title: EU Battlegroup / History / Early development (2005–2015)
caption_attribution_description: Nordic Battle Group ISTAR Training recently took place in Kilworth, including a visit from the Nordic Battle Group Force Cmdr and ISTAR Cmdr from Sweden
context_page_description: An EU Battlegroup is a military unit adhering to the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union. Often based on contributions from a coalition of member states, each of the eighteen Battlegroups consists of a battalion-sized force reinforced with combat support elements. The groups rotate actively, so that two are ready for deployment at all times. The forces are under the direct control of the Council of the European Union.
  The Battlegroups reached full operational capacity on 1 January 2007 and, as of August 2019, they have yet to see military action. They are based on existing ad hoc missions that the European Union has undertaken and have been described by some as a new "standing army" for Europe. The troops and equipment are drawn from the EU member states under a "lead nation". In 2004, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the plans and emphasised the value and importance of the Battlegroups in helping the UN deal with troublespots.
context_section_description: From 1 January 2005 the Battlegroups reached initial operational capacity; full operational capacity was reached on 1 January 2007. Although EU member states were initially highly motivated to volunteer to fill up the roster, the fact that participating member states have to cover their own costs, which especially burdened the smaller states, has made them more reluctant. Besides, many EU member states had simultaneous obligations to fulfill for ISAF and the NATO Response Force, amongst others. This combined with the fact that EU Battlegroups have never been deployed (due to slow political decision-making), despite several occasions in which they according to various experts could or should have been (most notably DR Congo in 2006 and 2008 and Libya in 2011), has led to increasing gaps in the standby roster. Joint funding and actual usage may resolve these issues.
caption: Irish Mowag Piranha during an exercise in 2010.
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