Brussels, 21/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - EU Member State defence ministers have noted the formation of two new joint forces battlegroups. The first, for the second half of 2007, is made up of Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian and Cypriot troops and will allow the EU to meet its aim to have, from 1 January 2007, a total operational capacity allowing it to undertake two rapid reaction operations by deploying forces of the size of a battlegroup, including the ability to launch two operations of this kind almost simultaneously. The second, for 2009, is formed of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. There are now 18 battlegroups, the updated list being as follows: 2006: (1) Germany and France; (2) Italy with Spain, Portugal and Greece; (3) France with Germany and Belgium. 1st half 2007: (1) France and Belgium; (2) Germany, Netherlands and Finland. 2nd half 2007: (1) Italy, Hungary and Slovenia; (2) Greece, with Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania. 1st half 2008: (1) Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Norway; (2) Spain, France and Germany. 2nd half 2008: (1) Germany, France, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg; (2) United Kingdom. 2009: (1) Italy, with Spain, Portugal and Greece; (2) Czech Republic and Slovakia; (3) Belgium and France (to be confirmed). 2010: (1) Poland, with Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia; (2) United Kingdom and Netherlands; (3) Italy, Romania and Turkey (to be confirmed).