'EUROFOR' terrestrial rapid reaction force to be shut down

The event will be led on behalf of Spain by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Admiral Fernando García Sánchez, together with the Subdirector-General for Security and Peacekeeping Operations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elena Gómez Castro.

Under an agreement between the four nations that comprise the Euroforce, the 'EUROFOR' terrestrial component will officially cease to exist on 2 July following the planned process for withdrawing the international treaty on which this multi-national European unit is based. The general headquarters of EUROFOR consists of 82 military personnel from the four Member States, of which 17 are currently Spanish.

Development of the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union and a reduced military structure for NATO, aimed at adapting to the strategic environment and current budgetary restrictions, have led to a decision by the four nations that comprise EUROFOR to shut down this military unit. From now on, Euroforce will be an exclusively naval operation and consist of 'EUROMARFOR', which is currently leading Operation 'Atalanta' as part of the European Union's fight against piracy in the waters off the coast of Somalia.

EUROFOR

EUROFOR was the Euroforce terrestrial rapid reaction force available for activation following a joint decision by the governments of the four participating nations. Its configuration could be altered to suit the mission at hand. It could operate up to a maximum level of Rapid Deployment Light Division to which each country provided units that varied from Battalion to Brigade, as well as support units of a complementary nature. The various units that each country would make available to EUROFOR, according to the predetermined configurations of this Euroforce, stayed on their national bases in a state of readiness.

The Euroforces are available for use by the European Union and NATO; the types of mission that can be assigned to them are defined in the Petersberg Declaration, which was finalised at the ministerial meeting of the Western European Union (WEU) in June 1992. These missions consist of non-combative humanitarian or evacuation missions, peacekeeping missions and crisis management missions, including combative missions to restore peace.

Milestones in the history of the Euroforces

At the meeting of WEU Defence ministers in Rome in September 1992, Spain, France and Italy agreed to create a tripartite aeronaval force. At the meeting in Grosetto in 1993, the ministers agreed to develop two different forces; a maritime force - 'EUROMARFOR'; and a terrestrial force 'EUROFOR'.

At the WEU Council in Lisbon on 15 May 1995, the Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers of Spain, France and Italy formally agreed to create the two Euroforces and Portugal joined the project.

On 2 October 1995, EUROFOR Activation Command was set up at the Predieri barracks in Florence in preparation for the creation of a permanent general headquarters.

EUROMARFOR was activated for the first time in Palma de Mallorca on 23 April 1996 under the command of Spanish Fleet Admiral Manuel Acedo Manteola with 14 ships from the four member countries for the 'Eolo' exercises.

EUROFOR was officially inaugurated by the Defence Ministers of the four member countries (Eduardo Serra on behalf of Spain) on 9 November 1996 at the general headquarters at the Predieri barracks in Florence. Spanish Division General Juan Ortuño Suchs took office as the first Commander in Chief of EUROFOR at the same ceremony and remained in the position for two years. In November 2004, command was once again assumed by a Spaniard; Division General Fernando Sánchez-Lafuente.

Since its creation, EUROFOR has performed numerous exercises in territories owned by the participating countries and has also been involved in the following real missions:

• 'Joint Guard' in Albania (2000-2001)

• 'Concordia' in FYR Macedonia (2003)

• 'Althea' in Bosnia-Herzegovina (2006-2007).

In the second half of 2011, EUROFOR led a 'Battle Group' of the European Union.