European Rapid Reaction Force

Force of up to 60,000 soldiers provided by member states of the European Union (EU) for peacekeeping or humanitarian relief purposes. EU members agreed to set up an ERRF at a summit in December 1999, although the agreement was not finalized until 2004. It became operational for limited missions in 2001 and has been classed as fully operational from January 2007, with the capability of deploying 60,000 troops within 60 days and sustaining this ground force for at least a year. It is not a European standing army or designed to fight wars. Its headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.

The soldiers are contributed by all EU member states except Denmark, which opted out. Germany contributes 13,500 troops, France and the United Kingdom 12,000 each, Italy and Spain 6,000 each, the Netherlands 5,000, Greece 3,000, Finland and Sweden 2,000 each, Belgium, Ireland, and Portugal 1,000 each, and Luxembourg 500. Offers of troops have also been made by other non-EU NATO members, including the Czech Republic and Turkey. The troops come together for specific operations and training. The force is commanded by a director-general (a military officer), but comes under the political control of a committee comprised of EU diplomats. National governments retain the power to decide if their forces will participate in any particular operation.

Critics of the ERRF fear it will undermine NATO and discourage US involvement in European peacekeeping operations. However, the ERRF is designed to be used outside the EU only when NATO decides not to get involved.