Brussels, 04/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - Finland hopes to contribute to the battle groups that the EU will be forming by 2007. The Finnish government took the political decision on Wednesday to take part in the armed battle group to be formed by Germany and the Netherlands in compliance with the agreement signed by the two countries during the informal meeting of EU defence ministers during September (see EUROPE of 18 September). Discussions are underway on the possibilities of such participation, EUROPE was told by a spokesman of the Dutch Defence Ministry, Klaas Meijer. The three countries must above all come to an understanding on the arrangements for Finnish participation. Such a contribution by Finland will be "significant" although the "main troops" will be provided by Germany and the Netherlands, Elina Kalkku, Head of Unit for Political Security at the Finnish Foreign Ministry, told EUROPE. Finland also confirmed, on Wednesday, its earlier decision to form an armed battle group with Sweden. In both cases, the battle groups will not be operational before 2007, Ms Kalkku continued, adding that her country did not plan to take part in other units of this kind "in a near future". The Netherlands is, however, studying the possibility of forming an armed battle group of an amphibious kind with the United Kingdom, Mr Meijer said for his part. According to AFP, Germany is contemplating forming a unit of this kind with Spain and France.
It was last May that the EU took the political decision to form battle groups in two phases: two to three units from 2005, and about ten in 2007. These forces, made up of 1,500 men, should allow the EU to react rapidly in response to crisis, as was the case for the Artemis mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (see EUROPE of 18 May and 7 April). On 22 November, during the Capabilities Conference, to be held in Brussels on the fringe of the Council of EU Defence Ministers, the Member States will announce the battle groups they hope to form.