European Rapid Operational Force
| Eurofor | |
|---|---|
| File:Eurofor coat of arms.svg | |
| Active | 1995 |
| Country | France, Italy, Portugal and Spain |
| Allegiance | Western European Union |
| Branch | Rapid reaction force |
European Operational Rapid Force (Eurofor) is a multinational rapid reaction force composed of forces from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. It has a permanent staff capable of commanding operations, involving commitments of up to a Light Division in size. Eurofor was formed in 1995, and was answerable to the Western European Union (WEU) directly. It is tasked with performing the so-called Petersberg tasks, including humanitarian, peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions. With the merger of several WEU elements into the European Union, Eurofor has by and large become part of the European Security and Defence Policy.
Missions
Eurofor has been involved in two deployments, in Albania, in Macedonia and in Chad and Central African Republic under the aegis of UN mission MINURCAT.
"Mission Albania" was 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. "Mission Macedonia" was conducted 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. It began on March 31, 2003 when the Macedonian authorities invited assistance with the goal of the establishment of a stable and secure environment in Macedonia. This mission officially ended on December 15, 2004.