EU to set up military units

[CHIMO]

Defence ministers in the European Union have agreed to create 13 so-called battle groups - military units that can be deployed rapidly to crisis situations around the world.


Dutch minister Henk Kamp said on Monday that the 1500-strong tactical groups, which will put flesh on long-standing EU plans to have an independent military capacity, would be ready for deployment within 15 days of any EU council request for their services.

"The battle groups are at the forefront of capability improvement, providing the union with credible, rapidly deployable, coherent force packages capable of stand-alone operations, or for the initial phase of larger operations," an EU statement said.

However, Eurosceptic groups see the move as a preliminary step towards a European army.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2A183638-7030-4195-86BD-B506F246C8F9.htm