fantassin
02-11-2004, 09:44 AM
EUROPE: Berlin to join UK and France in 'battle groups'
By Judy Dempsey in Brussels
Financial Times; Feb 11, 2004
Germany is to join forces with Britain and France to create highly trained, rapid deployment units for combat in jungle, desert and mountain operations.
Yesterday's decision, made a week before a summit of British, French and German leaders in Berlin, signals the ever-growing co-operation between Europe's big three countries on a wide range of issues.
The ambitious defence plans for establishing "battle groups" were presented jointly yesterday by all three countries to the European Union's special ambassadors that deal with security and military matters.
"Of course we are on board," said a German diplomat, dismissing earlier suggestions from France that Berlin was lukewarm about the Anglo-French initiative.
"This is now a trilateral initiative. What has to be worked out is how many troops we will contribute," he added.
German officials said the closer trilateral defence ties were a follow-up to an agreement by the three countries last December ahead of the European Union summit where efforts to agree a new constitution collapsed.
"We agreed on structured co-operation in defence. A few countries would take the lead; others would join if they met the criteria. This battle-groups initiative is about taking it for-ward," said another German official.
The battle groups will be made up of around 1,500 troops.
They would be deployed within 15 days and be able to remain on a mission for up to 30 days, extendable to three months.
Diplomats said Berlin would be prepared to contribute up to 1,500 troops.
By Judy Dempsey in Brussels
Financial Times; Feb 11, 2004
Germany is to join forces with Britain and France to create highly trained, rapid deployment units for combat in jungle, desert and mountain operations.
Yesterday's decision, made a week before a summit of British, French and German leaders in Berlin, signals the ever-growing co-operation between Europe's big three countries on a wide range of issues.
The ambitious defence plans for establishing "battle groups" were presented jointly yesterday by all three countries to the European Union's special ambassadors that deal with security and military matters.
"Of course we are on board," said a German diplomat, dismissing earlier suggestions from France that Berlin was lukewarm about the Anglo-French initiative.
"This is now a trilateral initiative. What has to be worked out is how many troops we will contribute," he added.
German officials said the closer trilateral defence ties were a follow-up to an agreement by the three countries last December ahead of the European Union summit where efforts to agree a new constitution collapsed.
"We agreed on structured co-operation in defence. A few countries would take the lead; others would join if they met the criteria. This battle-groups initiative is about taking it for-ward," said another German official.
The battle groups will be made up of around 1,500 troops.
They would be deployed within 15 days and be able to remain on a mission for up to 30 days, extendable to three months.
Diplomats said Berlin would be prepared to contribute up to 1,500 troops.