EU Battlegroup An EU Battlegroup ( EUBG ) is a military unit adhering to the Common Security and Defence Policy ( CSDP ) of the European Union ( EU ) . Often based on contributions from a coalition of member states , each of the eighteen Battlegroups consists of a battalion - sized force ( 1 , 500 troops ) 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 , although , as of January 2013 they are yet to see any military action . They are based on existing " ad hoc " missions that the European Union ( EU ) has undertaken and has 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 . Background . Battlegroups or battle groups as a combined arms military unit , based around an infantry battalion or armoured regiment , are not a new concept . However , the initial ideas for specific EU Battlegroups 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 initial deployment of land , sea and air forces within 5 – 10 days . " This was again described as essential in the " Headline Goal 2010 " . 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 . 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 Battle Groups were pledged with associated niche capabilities . 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 . The Battle Groups are designed to deal with a those tasks faced by the Common Security and Defence Policy , namely the Petersberg tasks ( military tasks of a humanitarian , peacekeeping and peacemaking nature ) . Planners claim the Battle Groups 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 . 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 . 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 medical 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 . Contributions . Larger member states will generally contribute their own Battle Groups , 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 . The initial thirteen Battle Groups were proposed on 22 November 2005 , further groups have joined them . The declared groups are as follows : 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 . 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 Battle Group . Niche capabilities . The following Member States have also offered niche capabilities in support of the EU Battle Groups : Further details on specific contributions . The Battle Groups 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 Battle Groups 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 . Standby roster . From 1 January 2005 the Battle Groups reached initial operational capacity : at least one Battle Group was on standby every 6 months . The United Kingdom and France each had an operational Battle Group for the first half of 2005 , and Italy for the second half . In the first half of 2006 , a Franco - German Battle Group operated , and the Hispano – Italian Amphibious Battle Group . In the second half of that year just one Battle Group operated composed of France , Germany and Belgium . Full operational capacity was reached on 1 January 2007 , meaning the Union could undertake two Battle Group sized operations concurrently , or deploy them simultaneously into the same field . The Battle Groups rotate every 6 months , the roster from 2007 onwards is as follows ; Wargames . In 2008 , the EU Battle Group conducted wargames to protect the first - ever free elections in the imaginary country of Vontinalys .