Contributions
Larger member states will generally contribute their own Battle Groups, while smaller members are expected to create common groups. Each group will have a 'lead nation' or 'framework nation' which will take operational command, based on the model set up during the EU's peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Operation Artemis). Each group will also be associated with a headquarters. Two non-EU NATO countries, Norway and Turkey, participate in a group each.
The initial thirteen Battle Groups were proposed on 22 November 2005, further groups have joined them. The declared groups are as follows:
| Battle group | Leading nation | Other participants* | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Battle Group | France | none | ??? |
| Italian Battle Group | Italy | none | ??? |
| Spanish Battle Group | Spain | none | ??? |
| British Battle Group | United Kingdom | none | ??? |
| French-German Battle Group | France | Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain | ??? |
| French-Belgian Battle Group | France | Belgium | ??? |
| Battle Group 107 | Germany | Netherlands and Finland | 1500 |
| German-Czech-Austrian Battle Group | Germany | Czech Republic, Croatia, Ireland and Austria | ??? |
| Italian-Hungarian-Slovenian Battle Group | Italy | Hungary and Slovenia | ??? |
| Hispano–Italian Amphibious Battle Group | Italy | Spain, Greece and Portugal | 1500 |
| Battle Group I-2010 | Poland | Germany, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania | 2500 |
| Nordic Battle Group | Sweden | Finland, Estonia, Ireland and Norway | 2200 |
| UK-Dutch Battle Group | United Kingdom | Netherlands | ??? |
| Balkan Battle Group | Greece | Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania | 1500 |
| Czecho-Slovak Battle Group | Czech Republic | Slovakia | 2500 |
| Spanish-led Battle Group | Spain | Germany, France and Portugal | ??? |
| Italian-Romanian-Turkish Battle Group | Italy | Romania and Turkey | ??? |
| Eurofor | Portugal | Spain, Italy, France | ??? |
| Weimar Battle Group | Poland | Germany and France | 1700 |
The Visegrád Group (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia) are considering a joint Battle Group as of April 2007. There are plans to extend the concept to air and naval forces, although not to the extent of having a single standing force on standby, but scattered forces which could be rapidly assembled.
Denmark has an opt-out clause in its accession treaty and is not obliged to participate in the common defence policy. Also Malta currently does not participate in any Battle Group.
Read more about this topic: EU Battlegroup