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Eurocorps
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Eurocorps is a multinational army corps within the framework of European Union and NATO common defence initiatives. Headquartered in Strasbourg, France, the force was established in 1992 and declared operational in 1995, though it draws from European defence initiatives as far back as the 1960s.
Six countries participate in Eurocorps as "framework nations": France, Germany, Belgium (from 1993), Spain (from 1994), Luxembourg (from 1996) and Poland (from 2008).
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Encyclopedia
Eurocorps is a multinational army corps within the framework of European Union and NATO common defence initiatives. Headquartered in Strasbourg, France, the force was established in 1992 and declared operational in 1995, though it draws from European defence initiatives as far back as the 1960s.
Six countries participate in Eurocorps as "framework nations": France, Germany, Belgium (from 1993), Spain (from 1994), Luxembourg (from 1996) and Poland (from 2008). A further seven countries have pledged troops or contribute operational staff: Austria, Turkey, Greece, the United Kingdom, Finland, Italy and the Netherlands. Most of these countries are members of the EU (with the exception of Turkey) and of NATO (with the exception of Finland and Austria).
Eurocorps comprises approximately 1,000 soldiers stationed in Strasbourg and up to 60,000 troops pledged for deployment in EU or NATO rapid-response missions. The nucleus of the force is the Franco-German Brigade established in 1987.
Organisation
The Eurocorps is not subordinate to any other military organisation. It is deployed on the authority of the five member states represented in the Common Committee by each nation's Chief of Defence and Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This committee considers requests for support from multinational organisations such as the UN or EU. The Corps can also be deployed at the behest of the member nations. In 2008 the European Parliament voted with a large resolution proposing that Eurocorps becomes the standing army of the EU, under EU command.
Headquarters
The Eurocorps headquarters is based in Strasbourg near the Franco-German border, the seat of several European institutions. The headquarters contains the following units:
- A Command Group consisting of the Commanding General, the Deputy Commanding General, Air and Navy representatives, legal advisers, a public information office, a medical adviser and political advisers (only during engagement).
- A Staff of approximately 350 providing support to the command group. The staff includes Officers from Austria, Poland, Greece, and Turkey.
- A Multi-national Command Support Brigade is colocated in Strasbourg. This brigade is separate and subordinate to the Corps headquarters and provides additional support when the Corps is deployed. The brigade is formed from units provided by the nations on a case-by-case basis but has a permanent headquarters of 80 personnel.
- A Headquarters Support Battalion (subordinated to the Multi-national Command Support Brigade) providing protection, transport, food, etc. to headquarters. This battalion consists of approximately 330 soldiers but can be significantly reinforced in case of commitments.
English is the command language and all personnel assigned to Eurocorps headquarters must be able to use it.
Subordinate units
The five framework countries have earmarked the following units to the Eurocorps:
- The French-German Brigade (under operational command)
- French Contribution
- Etat-Major de Force numéro 4 (EMF4) in Limoges (equivalent to a divisional HQ) till 30 June 2009: one armoured brigade, one mechanised infantry brigade, if necessary specialized support units
- German Contribution
- Belgian Contribution
- The Operational Command Land, with its HQ in Evere, during 2008 composed of the 7th Medium Brigade in Marche-en-Famenne
- Spanish Contribution
- The "Cuartel General del Mando de Fuerzas Pesadas" (Heavy Forces Command) in Burgos. One mechanised division.
- Luxembourg Contribution
- A reconnaissance company (180 soldiers) based in Diekirch, composed of two reconnaissance platoons, an anti-tank platoon and a logistics support element. This unit will normally be integrated into the Belgian contribution during operations.
- Polish Contribution
- "17 Wielkopolska Brygada Zmechanizowana" (17th Mechanised Brigade) based at Miedzyrzecz.
Except for the Franco-German Brigade and the Staff of the Multinational Command Support Brigade (MNCS Bde) that are permanently under operational command of HQ Eurocorps, the national contributions remain under national command in peacetime. They become fully subordinated after Transfer of Authority has been decided by member states.
The size and type of Eurocorps units required in operations will depend on the nature and scope of assigned missions, likely employment, and the expected operational outcome. In the case that all earmarked national contributions are committed, the Corps would number approximately 60,000.
Deployments
The Brigade participated in peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and led KFOR III in Kosovo from 18 April 2000 to October 2000 and led the ISAF6 Force in Afghanistan from 9 August, 2004 to 11 February 2005. From 1 July 2006, to 10 January 2007, HQ Eurocorps was the land component stand by element of the NATO Response Force 7. 1,000 soldiers are to be stationed in Strasbourg in a proposal passed by the EU.
Participating countries
"Framework nations":
Other contributors:
See also
External links
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