10/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - This week, the United Kingdom and France are expected to unveil at the European Union's Political and Security Committee (COPS) an ambitious initiative for military cooperation which would help to beef up European defence policy. According to The Financial Times, the initiative covers the creation, by 2007, of a string of highly trained, rapid-deployment units for combat in jungle, desert and mountain operations (1500 troops being deployed within 15 days for missions on the ground not exceeding one month). These units could operate where necessary under a UN mandate and would not be competitive but rather complementary to NATO. London hopes the plan will be approved by the Union during the Irish Presidency and specifies that it must be open to all, if there is a high degree of interoperability. The Financial Times adds that the plan includes a detailed timetable, describing where and how these units would conduct their missions, as well as the details on necessary training.
Plenary session of the European Parliament