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The European Rapid Operational Force (EUROFOR) was a multinational rapid reaction force composed of forces from four states of the European Union: Italy, France, Portugal and Spain. It had a permanent staff capable of commanding operations, involving commitments of up to a Light Division in size. Eurofor was formed in May 1995 in
Eurofor has been involved in three deployments:
*2000-2001: Mission Albania: In response to a refugee crisis in Albania following the Kosovo War. The deployment was initially part of NATO operation " Allied Harbor" and once NATO ground forces entered Kosovo, Eurofor's mission also incorporated the defence of NATO supply lines through Albania.
*2003: Mission Macedonia: Under the wing of the European Union, as part of EUFOR Concordia. Formally, Eurofor became answerable directly to the European Union, through the Political and Security Committee. This operation began on 31 March 2003 when the Macedonian authorities invited assistance with the goal of the establishment of a stable and secure environment in Macedonia (now North Macedonia). This mission officially ended on 15 December 2004.
*2007: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lisbon
Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...
, and was answerable to the Western European Union (WEU) directly. It was tasked with performing Petersberg tasks, including humanitarian
Humanitarianism is an active belief in the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotional ...
, peacekeeping
Peacekeeping comprises activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare.
Within the United N ...
and peace enforcement missions. With the merger of several WEU elements into the European Union, Eurofor had by and large become part of the Common Security and Defence Policy
The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is the European Union's (EU) course of action in the fields of defence and crisis management, and a main component of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
The CSDP involves the deplo ...
. It was eventually transformed into an EU Battlegroup and was on standby from 1 July until 31 December 2011. On 2 July 2012, Eurofor was dissolved.
Operations
Eurofor has been involved in three deployments:
*2000-2001: Mission Albania: In response to a refugee crisis in Albania following the Kosovo War. The deployment was initially part of NATO operation " Allied Harbor" and once NATO ground forces entered Kosovo, Eurofor's mission also incorporated the defence of NATO supply lines through Albania.
*2003: Mission Macedonia: Under the wing of the European Union, as part of EUFOR Concordia. Formally, Eurofor became answerable directly to the European Union, through the Political and Security Committee. This operation began on 31 March 2003 when the Macedonian authorities invited assistance with the goal of the establishment of a stable and secure environment in Macedonia (now North Macedonia). This mission officially ended on 15 December 2004.
*2007: Bosnia and Herzegovina
See also
* European Maritime Force * European Gendarmerie Force * Eurocorps * EU BattlegroupReferences
{{Authority control Western European Union Military history of the European Union Multinational units and formations Military units and formations established in 1995 Military units and formations disestablished in 2012 Battlegroups of the European Union Florence 1995 establishments in Italy 2012 disestablishments in Italy 1995 in the European Union 2012 in the European Union Government agencies established in 1995 Government agencies disestablished in 2012