View source for EU battlegroup

{{Other uses|battle group (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = EU battlegroup
| image                         = European Battle Group Excercise 140220-A-OO646-258.jpg
| image_size                    = 300px
| caption                       = [[EUBG 2014 II]] training in Germany
| dates                         = 2004–present
| country                       = {{EU}}
| branch                        = Army
| type                          = Framework for creating deployable forces
| colors                        = 
| role                          = 
| size                          = 
| command_structure             = [[Council of the European Union]]
| battles                       = 
}}
An '''EU battlegroup''' ('''EU BG'''){{sfn|Lindstrom|2007|p=7}} is a military unit adhering to the [[Common Security and Defence Policy]] (CSDP) of the [[European Union]] (EU). Often based on contributions from a coalition of [[Member State of the European Union|member states]], each of the eighteen battlegroups consists of a [[battalion]]-sized force reinforced with combat support elements (1,500 troops).<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2005 |title=The EU Battlegroups and the EU civilian and military cell |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/Battlegroups.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013625/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/Battlegroups.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=10 July 2015 |work=European Union Factsheet |publisher=European Council}}</ref><ref name="BBC 150307"/> Two of the battlegroups were to be capable for operational deployment at any one time. The civil power that oversees these battlegroups is the [[Council of the European Union]].

The battlegroup initiative reached full operational capacity on 1 January 2007, but, {{as of|2023|11|lc=on}}, they had yet to see operational service.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21569718-europeans-ability-deploy-force-abroad-falling-mali-shows-it-still-needed-europe |title=Europe in a foreign field |author="Charlemagne" (columnist) |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=13 January 2013 |access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/> They were developed from existing ''[[ad hoc]]'' missions that the [[European Union]] (EU) had undertaken.<ref name="BBC 150307">{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6441417.stm |title=New force behind EU foreign policy |author=Paul Reynolds |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=15 March 2007 |access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref> The troops and equipment are drawn from the [[Member States of the European Union]] under the direction of a "lead nation". In 2004, [[United Nations]] Secretary-General [[Kofi Annan]] welcomed the plans and emphasised the value and importance of the battlegroups in helping the UN deal with troublespots.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/value-of-eu-battlegroup-plan-stressed-by-annan-1.1162012 |title=Value of EU 'battlegroup' plan stressed by Annan |author=Deaglan De Breadun |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=15 October 2004 |access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Further|History of the Common Security and Defence Policy}}

=== Background (1999–2005) ===
The initial idea to create EU multinational roughly battalion-sized combined arms units was first publicly raised at the [[European Council]] summit on 10–11 December 1999 in [[Helsinki]]. The Council produced the [[Helsinki Headline Goal|Headline Goal 2003]] and specified the need for a rapid response capability that [[European Union member state|members]] should provide in small forces at high readiness. The idea was reiterated at a [[France|Franco]]-British summit on 4 February 2003 in [[Le Touquet]] which highlighted as a priority the need to improve rapid response capabilities, "including initial deployment of land, sea and air forces within 5–10 days."{{sfn|Lindstrom|2007|p=9}} This was again described as essential in the "[[Headline Goal 2010]]".

[[Operation Artemis]] in 2003 showed an EU rapid reaction and deployment of forces in a short time scale – with the EU going from ''Crisis Management Concept'' to operation launch in just three weeks, then taking a further 20 days for substantial deployment. Its success provided a template for the future rapid response deployments allowing the idea to be considered more practically. The following Franco-British summit in November of that year stated that, building on the experience of the operation, the EU should be able and willing to deploy forces within 15 days in response to a UN request. It called specifically for "battlegroup sized forces of around 1500 land forces, personnel, offered by a single nation or through a multinational or framework nation force package".

On 10 February 2004, France, Germany and the United Kingdom released a paper outlining the "battlegroup concept". The document proposed a number of groups based on Artemis that would be autonomous, consisting of about 1500 personnel and deployable within 15 days. These would be principally in response to UN requests at short notice and can be rapidly tailored to specific missions. They would concentrate on bridging operations, preparing the group before a larger force relieved them, for example UN or regional peacekeepers under UN mandate. The plan was approved by all groups in 2004 and in November that year the first thirteen battlegroups were pledged with associated niche capabilities.{{sfn|Lindstrom|2007|pp=9–12}}

=== Early development (2005–2015) ===
[[File:Nordic Battle Group ISTAR Training - Mowag (5014803970).jpg|thumb|Irish [[Mowag Piranha]] during an exercise in 2010]]
From 1 January 2005 the Battlegroups reached initial operational capacity; full operational capacity was reached on 1 January 2007. Although EU member states were initially highly motivated to volunteer to fill up the roster, the fact that participating member states have to cover their own costs, which especially burdened the smaller states, has made them more reluctant. Besides, many EU member states had simultaneous obligations to fulfill for [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]] and the [[NATO Response Force]], amongst others. This combined with the fact that EU Battlegroups have never been deployed (due to slow political decision-making), despite several occasions in which they according to various experts could or should have been (most notably [[2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|DR Congo in 2006]] and [[2008 Nord-Kivu campaign|2008]] and [[Libyan Civil War (2011)|Libya in 2011]]), has led to increasing gaps in the standby roster. Joint funding and actual usage may resolve these issues.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iss.europa.eu/uploads/media/Brief_40_EU_Battlegroups.pdf |title=EU Battlegroups – ready to go? |author=Anna Barcikowska |work=Brief ISS |publisher=EUISS |date=November 2013 |access-date=10 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710174251/http://www.iss.europa.eu/uploads/media/Brief_40_EU_Battlegroups.pdf |archive-date=10 July 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Homan |first=Kees |date=August 2011 |title=EU-Battle groups: Use them, or lose them |url=http://www.clingendael.nl/sites/default/files/20110800_armex_homan.pdf |journal=Armex |publisher=[[Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael]] |volume=95 |issue=4 |pages=18–19 |access-date=11 July 2015 |language=nl |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205148/http://www.clingendael.nl/sites/default/files/20110800_armex_homan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== MPCC, EDF and PESCO (2016–2020) ===
On 23 June 2016, the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|Brexit referendum]] resulted in a vote in favour of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Since the UK and France were the largest military powers within the EU, this would mean a serious reduction in forces available for common European defence. On 28 June, High Representative [[Federica Mogherini]] presented a new plan, the [[European Union Global Strategy]] on Security and Foreign Policy, for rigorous further European military integration between the EU member states. These included more cooperation when planning missions, training and exercising soldiers, and the development of a European defence industry. For the EU Battlegroups specifically, the plan aims to remove the obstacles preventing their rapid deployment, such as the lack of a European military headquarters. Although stressing that [[NATO]] will remain the most important defence organisation for many EU countries, Mogherini stated that the Union should be able to operate 'autonomously if necessary' on security matters. Referring to the EU's diplomacy and development record, she said that 'Soft power is not enough', and that in a less secure world, especially after Brexit, common action was needed more than ever.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/plan-voor-militaire-macht-europa-komt-op-pikant-moment~a4329406/ |title=Plan voor militaire macht Europa komt op pikant moment |author=Arie Elshout |work=de Volkskrant |date=29 June 2016 |access-date=10 April 2017 |language=nl}}</ref>

On 14 November 2016, the 56 European Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence agreed to the European Union Global Strategy on Security and Foreign Policy. This included new possibilities for the rapid deployment of EU Battlegroups with aerial support for civil and military operations in conflict zones outside Europe, for example, before a [[United Nations peacekeeping|UN peacekeeping]] force can arrive. Although Mogherini said the Strategy was 'not a [[European army]]' or a 'NATO duplicate', the [[2016 United States presidential election|recent U.S. presidential election]] of [[Donald Trump]], who had previously implicitly threatened to abandon NATO if its European member states continued to fail in meeting their funding obligations,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/07/trump-nato/492341/ |title=Donald Trump's NATO Remarks Stuns U.S. Allies |author=Krishnadev Calamur |work=The Atlantic |date=21 July 2016 |access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> influenced the European Ministers' decision as well.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://fd.nl/economie-politiek/1175595/eu-gaat-actiever-worden-op-defensiegebied |title=EU gaat actiever worden op defensiegebied |author=Rik Winkel |work=[[Het Financieele Dagblad]] |date=14 November 2016 |access-date=10 April 2017 |language=nl}}</ref> Besides Brexit and the election of Trump, [[Russian Armed Forces|Russia's military expansionism]] and the [[European migrant crisis]] motivated them as well, making them agree relatively easily, which analysts regarded as a breakthrough.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2016/11/14/europa-wordt-wakker-dankzij-trump-5286540-a1531785 |title=Europa wordt wakker dankzij Trump |author=Stephane Alonso |work=NRC Handelsblad |date=14 November 2016 |access-date=10 April 2017 |language=nl}}</ref>

On 6 March 2017, the foreign and defence ministers agreed to establish a small European command centre in Brussels for military training missions abroad, which could grow out to become a European military 'headquarters' in the future.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-defence-idUSKBN16D1ZI |title=EU approves military training command after reluctant British retreat |author=Robin Emmott |work=Reuters|date=6 March 2017 |access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> This [[Military Planning and Conduct Capability]] (MPCC) was confirmed and established by the [[Council of the European Union]] on 8 June 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/06/08/military-mpcc-planning-conduct-capability/ |title=EU defence cooperation: Council establishes a Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) |publisher=Council of the European Union |date=8 June 2017 |access-date=4 November 2017 |archive-date=19 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019120711/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/06/08/military-mpcc-planning-conduct-capability/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> This came one day after the European Commission launched the [[European Defence Fund]] (EDF), comprising €5.5 billion per year, to 'coordinate, supplement and amplify national investments in defence research, in the development of prototypes and in the acquisition of defence equipment and technology'.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1508_en.htm |title=A European Defence Fund: €5.5 billion per year to boost Europe's defence capabilities |work=European Commission Press Release Database |publisher=European Commission |date=7 June 2017 |access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> Until then, the lack of a common military fund had been the main obstacle to the effective operational deployment of the EU Battlegroups.<ref name="Kellner">{{Cite web |url=https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/assessing-the-csdp-after-the-june-2017-eu-summit/ |title=Assessing the CSDP after the June 2017 EU Summit |author=Anna Kellner |work=ELN Publications & Commentary |publisher=[[European Leadership Network]] |date=6 July 2017 |access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Elshout">{{Cite news |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/eu-gaat-serieus-werk-maken-van-een-europese-defensie-maar-er-komt-geen-leger~a4502122/ |title=EU gaat serieus werk maken van een Europese defensie, maar er komt géén leger |author=Arie Elshout |work=de Volkskrant |date= 22 June 2017 |access-date=5 November 2017 |language=nl}}</ref> An agreement on [[Permanent Structured Cooperation|Permanent Structured Cooperation in Defence]] (PESCO) was reached at 22–23 June EU summit in Brussels.<ref name="Kellner"/><ref name="Elshout"/> A June 2017 [[Eurobarometer]] opinion poll showed that 75% of Europeans supported a common European security and defence policy, and 55% even favoured a European army.<ref name="Kellner"/> Political leaders such as Dutch PM [[Mark Rutte]] commented that a 'European army' was not in the making, however.<ref name="Elshout"/>

=== Strategic Compass and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine (2020–present) ===
During the German EU presidency in the second half of 2020, the EU Common Security and Defence Policy began development of the [[Strategic Compass for Security and Defence]],<ref name="Rodel">{{Cite web |title=Krisenmanagement, Resilienz und Fähigkeiten Europas unter der Lupe |author=Claudia Rodel |work=bmvg.de |date=16 November 2020 |access-date=15 October 2022 |url=https://www.bmvg.de/de/aktuelles/krisenmanagement-resilienz-faehigkeiten-europas-4404296}}</ref> as of November 2021 envisioning 'substantially modified EU battlegroups' of 5,000 soldiers by 2025.<ref name="DW Borrell">{{Cite news |url=https://p.dw.com/p/42qUI |title=EU-Außenbeauftragter präsentiert Konzept für EU-Eingreiftruppe |author=kle/bru (dpa, afp) |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=10 November 2021 |access-date=15 October 2022 |language=de}}</ref> While EU foreign chief [[Josep Borrell]] emphasised the EU intervention force should not be in competition with NATO, it was important to reduce operational dependency on the United States to allow EU military formations to function more autonomously, as had become more apparent during the August [[2021 Kabul airlift]].<ref name="DW Borrell"/><ref name="DW overhaul"/> There continued to be problems in gathering enough troops together, and at the time only one EU Battlegroup of the standard two was available on stand-by.<ref name="DW Borrell"/>

The Strategic Compass was eventually adopted in March 2022.<ref name="Hartman">{{Cite web |title=Strategischer Kompass am Ziel: EU wird bei Verteidigung handlungsfähiger |author=Annik Hartman |work=bmvg.de |date=5 May 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 |url=https://www.bmvg.de/de/aktuelles/strategischer-kompass-entwicklung-strategischer-grundlagen-278176 |language=de}}</ref><ref name="Vindobona">{{Cite web |title=Planning Conference for EU Battlegroup 2025 in Vienna: Strengthening the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy |work=Vindobona.org {{!}} Vienna International News |date=27 May 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 |url=https://www.vindobona.org/article/planning-conference-eu-battlegroup-2025-in-vienna-strengthening-common-security-and-defense-policy}}</ref> Although it had already been in development since late 2020, 24 February [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] accelerated the development and adoption of the Strategic Compass on 21 March 2022 in Brussels at the meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers, who jointly strongly condemned Russia's actions, made a strong commitment to the complementary cooperation between the EU and NATO, and discussed plans to increase the EU's defensive capabilities.<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal">{{Cite web |title=EU-Battlegroup 2025: Planungskonferenz in Ulm – bundeswehr-journal |work=bundeswehr-journal |date=3 October 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 |url=https://www.bundeswehr-journal.de/2022/eu-battlegroup-2025-planungskonferenz-in-ulm/ |language=de}}</ref><ref name="DW overhaul">{{Cite news |url=https://p.dw.com/p/48o73 |title=EU approves security policy for rapid reaction force |author=ar/rt (AFP, dpa, Reuters) |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=21 March 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> As part of the Strategic Compass, it was decided to create the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC) by further developing the EU Battlegroups (EUBG) 'to be able to act quickly and appropriately, in both civilian and military missions, in the event of a crisis.'<ref name="Hartman"/><ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/> As leader of the EU Battlegroup 2025 (to be operational in 2025), Germany would provide a core of the new EU RDC, supported by contributions of other EU member states.<ref name="Hartman"/> At the late May 2022 planning conference for the EU Battlegroup 2025 in Vienna involving 10 EU states, it was decided that the RDC concept was to be finalised by the end of 2022, the advanced battlegroup would include up to 5,000 soldiers from Germany and the Netherlands (lead), Austria (logistics), Hungary, Croatia, and other member states, joint exercises and training would commence in 2023, the force was to be fully operational by 2025, and would be deployed for 12 months in areas up to 6,000 kilometres measured from Brussels.<ref name="Vindobona"/><ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/> Aside from ground troops, the new force was to include space and cyber capabilities, special forces and strategic airlift capacities, and, depending on requirements, air and naval forces.<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/> Another EUBG 2025 planning conference was held in September 2022 at the Multinational Joint Headquarters [[Ulm]], which would likely also serve as the future headquarters at the military-strategic level.<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.schwaebische.de/landkreis/alb-donau-kreis/ulm_artikel,-ulmer-kommando-richtet-kraefteplanungskonferenz-aus-_arid,11560932.html |title=Ulmer Kommando richtet Kräfteplanungskonferenz aus |work=Schwäbische |date=4 October 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=OSW 
|date=2024-01-24 |title=The EU Rapid Deployment Capacity: political priorities and real needs - Commentary |first=Łukasz |last=Maślanka |url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2024-01-24/eu-rapid-deployment-capacity-political-priorities-and-real |access-date=22 November 2025}}</ref>

== Tasks ==
[[File:Belgian soldier during Rampant Lion, EU Battlegroup 2014 II exercise in Grafenwoehr, Germany.jpg|thumb|A Belgian soldier on exercise with the EU Battlegroup in Germany, 2014]]

The groups are intended to be deployed on the ground within 5–10 days of approval from the council. It must be sustainable for at least 30 days, which could be extended to 120 days, if resupplied.<ref name="EU Battlegroups factsheet">{{Cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/esdp/91624.pdf |title=Factsheet on EU Battlegroups |work=Consilium.europa.eu |publisher=[[Council of the European Union]] |date=April 2013 |access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref>

The Battlegroups are designed to deal with those tasks faced by the [[Common Security and Defence Policy]], namely the [[Petersberg tasks]] (military tasks of a humanitarian, peacekeeping and peacemaking nature).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/sede/dv/sede030909noteesdp_/sede030909noteesdp_en.pdf |title=The European Security and Defence Policy: from the Helsinki Headline Goal to the EU Battlegroups |publisher=[[European Parliament]] |date=12 September 2006 |access-date=7 July 2015}} (p. 9)</ref>

Planners claim the Battlegroups have enough range to deal with all those tasks, although such tasks ought to be limited in "size and intensity" due to the small nature of the groups. Such missions may include conflict prevention, evacuation, aid deliverance or initial stabilisation. In general these would fall into three categories; brief support of existing troops, rapid deployment preparing the ground for larger forces or small-scale rapid response missions.{{sfn|Lindstrom|2007|pp=17–19}}

== Structure ==
A [[Battlegroup (army)|Battlegroup]] is considered to be the smallest self-sufficient military unit that can be deployed and sustained in a [[Theater (warfare)|theatre of operation]]. EU Battlegroups are composed of approximately 1,500 troops; plus, command and support services.<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/> The initial thirteen Battlegroups were proposed on 22 November 2004;<ref name="EU Battlegroups factsheet"/> further battlegroups have joined them since then. Since March 2022, the EU has been planning to increase their size to up to 5,000 troops per battlegroup by 2025.<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/>

There is no fixed structure, a 'standard' group would include a headquarters company, three infantry companies and corresponding support personnel.{{cn|date=December 2023}} Specific units might include mechanised infantry, support groups (e.g. fire or medical support), the combination of which allows independent action by the group on a variety of tasks. The main forces, extra support and "force headquarters" (front line command) are contained within the Battlegroup "package", in addition there is the [[European Security and Defence Policy#Structure|operation headquarters, located in Europe]].{{sfn|Lindstrom|2007|pp=15–16}}

== Contributions ==
Larger member states will generally contribute their own Battlegroups, 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. Three non-EU [[NATO]] countries, [[Norway]], [[Turkey]], and [[North Macedonia]],<ref name="EUBG 2014 II"/> participate in a group each, as well as one non-EU non-NATO country, [[Ukraine]].<ref name="BratDec">{{Cite web |url=http://www.visegradgroup.eu/calendar/2014/bratislava-declaration |title=Bratislava Declaration of the Visegrad Group Heads of Government on the Deepening V4 Defence Cooperation |work=Visegradgroup.eu |publisher=[[Visegrád Group]] |date=2014 |access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="V4"/> From 1992 to 2022, [[Denmark]] had an [[Opt-outs in the European Union|opt-out clause]] in the Treaty of Maastricht and was not obliged to participate in the Common Security and Defence Policy, but following a [[2022 Danish European Union opt-out referendum|1 June 2022 referendum in favour of abolishing the opt-out]], Denmark joined the CSDP a month later on 1 July 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/danes-vote-yes-to-abolish-eu-defence-opt-out-here-are-the-next-steps?publisherId=13560888&releaseId=13652552&lang=da|title=Danes vote yes to abolish EU defence opt-out – here are the next steps|date=2022-06-02|accessdate=2022-06-05|publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)]]|archive-date=2022-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602112911/https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/danes-vote-yes-to-abolish-eu-defence-opt-out-here-are-the-next-steps?publisherId=13560888&releaseId=13652552&lang=da|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Malta]] currently does not participate in any Battlegroup.

;Participating EU NATO member states
{{colbegin|colwidth=12em}}
* {{BEL}}
* {{BUL}}
* {{CRO}}
* {{CZE}}
* {{DNK}}
* {{EST}}
* {{FIN}}
* {{FRA}}
* {{DEU}}
* {{GRC}}
* {{HUN}}
* {{ITA}}
* {{LAT}}
* {{LIT}}
* {{LUX}}
* {{NLD}}
* {{POL}}
* {{POR}}
* {{ROM}}
* {{SVK}}
* {{SVN}}
* {{ESP}}
* {{SWE}}
{{colend}}
;Participating EU non-NATO member states
{{colbegin|colwidth=12em}}
* {{AUT}}
* {{CYP}}
* {{IRL}}
{{colend}}
;Participating non-EU NATO member states
{{colbegin|colwidth=12em}}
* {{NOR}}
* {{TUR}}
* {{MKD}}
{{colend}}
;Participating non-EU non-NATO member states
{{colbegin|colwidth=12em}}
* {{UKR}}
* {{SRB}}
{{colend}}
;Non-participating EU member states
{{colbegin|colwidth=12em}}
* {{MLT}}
{{colend}}

=== Standby roster ===
From 1 January 2005 the Battlegroups reached initial operational capacity: at least one Battlegroup was on standby every 6 months. The United Kingdom<ref name="Lessons">{{Cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldselect/ldeucom/187/187163.htm |title=Lessons Identified from Battlegroups Initial Operational Capability |author=John Reid |author-link=John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan |work=[[Hansard]] |publisher=[[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] |date=27 January 2006 |access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> and France each had an operational Battlegroup for the first half of 2005, and Italy for the second half. In the first half of 2006, a Franco-German Battlegroup operated, and the [[Spanish–Italian Amphibious Battlegroup]]. In the second half of that year just one Battlegroup operated composed of France, Germany and Belgium.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Full operational capacity was reached on 1 January 2007, meaning the Union could undertake two Battlegroup sized operations concurrently, or deploy them simultaneously into the same field. The Battlegroups rotate every 6 months, the roster from 2007 onwards is as follows;<ref name="Bonaiuti">{{Cite book |last1=Bonaiuti |first1=Chiara |last2=Lodovisi |first2=Achille |date=2010 |title=Sicurezza, controllo e finanza. Le nuove dimensioni del mercato degli armamenti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GpuaQRW1UMcC&pg=273 |location=Milan |publisher=Editoriale Jaca Book |page=273 |isbn=978-8816409279 |access-date=7 July 2015 |language=it}}</ref>{{sfn|Lindstrom|2007|p=88}}<ref name="Volpi">{{cite book |last=Volpi |first=Valerio |date=2011 |title=Why Europe Will Not Run the 21st Century: Reflections on the Need for a New European Federation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wAYrBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA155 |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |page=155 |isbn=978-1443830522 |access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="Atlcom">{{Cite web |url=http://www.atlcom.nl/onderwijs/hoofdstuk-4-naar-een-europees-defensiebeleid/ |title=Hoofdstuk 4: Naar een Europees Defensiebeleid |work=Atlcom.nl |publisher=[[Netherlands Atlantic Association]] |date=2008 |access-date=10 July 2015 |language=nl |archive-date=10 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710235610/http://www.atlcom.nl/onderwijs/hoofdstuk-4-naar-een-europees-defensiebeleid/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="signposts">{{Cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201012/ldselect/ldeucom/292/29206.htm |title=European Defence Capabilities: lessons from the past, signposts for the future. Chapter 3: the state of play |work=European Union Committee – Thirty-First Report |publisher=[[House of Lords]] |date=24 April 2012 |access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EUMC Report to PSC on the Outcome of BGCC 2/18 -Enclosures |url=http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-14235-2018-ADD-1/en/pdf |publisher=European External Action Service |access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EUMC Report to PSC on the Outcome of BGCC 2/15 |url=http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13492-2015-ADD-1/en/pdf |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EUMC Report to PSC on the Outcome of BGCC 2/17 |url=http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13707-2017-ADD-1/en/pdf |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|+ Standby roster, in which biannual periods I and II are January to June and June to December, respectively
! colspan="2" | Period
! Battle Group
! Framework nation
! Other participants*
! Force HQ (FHQ)
! Size
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2005
! rowspan=2 | I
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French Battlegroup]]
| France
| –
| Paris
|
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[British Battlegroup]]<ref name="Lessons"/>
| United Kingdom
| –
| London
|
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Italian Battlegroup]]
| Italy
| –
| Rome
|
|-
| vacant<ref name="signposts"/>
| –
| –
| –
|
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2006
! rowspan=2 | I
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French–German Battlegroup]]
| France
| Germany
| Paris
|
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Hispano–Italian Amphibious Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Spanish–Italian Amphibious Battlegroup]]
| Italy
| Spain, Greece and Portugal
| Rome
| 1500
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French–German–Belgian Battlegroup]]
| France
| Germany and Belgium
| Paris
|
|-
| vacant<ref name="signposts"/>
| –
| –
| –
|
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2007
! rowspan=2 | I
|[[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French–Belgian Battlegroup]]
|France
|Belgium
|Paris
|
|-
|[[File:Battlegroup 107.jpg|25px]] [[Battlegroup 107]]<ref name="Volpi"/>
|Germany
|The Netherlands and Finland
|[[Potsdam]]
| 1720<ref name="Heck">{{Cite news |url=http://vorige.nrc.nl/europa/article1747542.ece |title=EU wil wereldwijd vlammen doven |author=Wilmer Heck |work=[[NRC Handelsblad]] |date=30 November 2006 |access-date=7 July 2015 |language=nl}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
|[[File:Multinational Land Force.png|25px]] [[Multinational Land Force]]<ref>Also known as the Italian–Hungarian–Slovenian Battlegroup.</ref>
|Italy
|Hungary and Slovenia
|[[Udine]]
|1500
|-
|[[File:Coat of arms of the Balkan Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Balkan Battlegroup]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1177934401.61/ |title=Greece prepares military exercise with Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania |access-date=2007-07-01 |date=22 November 2005 |publisher=EUbusiness |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165340/http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1177934401.61/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 30 September 2007 }}</ref>
|Greece
|Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus
|[[Larissa]]
|1500
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2008
! rowspan=2 | I
|[[File:Coat of Arms of the Nordic Battlegroup.svg|25px]] [[Nordic Battlegroup]] (NBG08)
|Sweden
|Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Ireland and Norway<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sverige/norra-europa-pa-vag-mot-en-forsvarsallians/ |title=Norra Europa på väg mot en försvarsallians |author1=Erik Magnusson |author2=Mats Amnell |work=[[Sydsvenskan]] |date=13 December 2007 |access-date=11 July 2015 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917171358/http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sverige/norra-europa-pa-vag-mot-en-forsvarsallians/ |archive-date=17 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.se/article.php?id=12793 |title= Nordic Battlegroup – svenskledd styrka till EU:s snabbinsatsförmåga |access-date=2006-08-26 |publisher=Försvarsmakten |language=sv |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060823082803/http://www.mil.se/article.php?id=12793 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 23 August 2006 }}</ref>
|[[Enköping]]
|1500
|-
|[[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Spanish-led Battlegroup]]
|Spain
|Germany, France and Portugal
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
|[[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French–German Battlegroup]]
|France
|Germany
|Paris
|{{Unknown}}
|-
|[[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[British Battlegroup]]
|United Kingdom
| –
|London
|
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2009
! rowspan=2 | I
|[[File:Coat of arms of the Hispano–Italian Amphibious Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Spanish–Italian Amphibious Battlegroup]]
|Italy
|Spain, Greece and Portugal
|Rome
|1500
|-
|[[File:Coat of arms of the Balkan Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Balkan Battlegroup]]
|Greece
|Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus
|{{Unknown}}
|1500
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
| [[File:Czech-Slovak Battlegroup.png|25px]] [[Czech–Slovak Battlegroup]]
| Czech Republic
| Slovakia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.czech.cz/zpravy/news_detail.aspx?id=4708-Czechs,-Slovaks-start-preparing-joint-military-unit- |title=Czechs, Slovaks start preparing joint military unit |access-date=2006-08-26 |date=20 July 2006 |publisher=Czech Republic: The Official Website of the Czech Republic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011707/http://www.czech.cz/zpravy/news_detail.aspx?id=4708-Czechs%2C-Slovaks-start-preparing-joint-military-unit- |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><!-- [http://www.praguemonitor.com/ctk/?id=20051121F00601;story=Czechs-and-Slovaks-to-join-EU-rapid-reaction-force dead link] -->
| 
| 2500
|-
|[[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Belgian-led Battlegroup]]
|Belgium
|Luxembourg and France<ref name="Volpi"/>
|{{Unknown}}
|???
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2010
! rowspan=2 | I
|[[File:Grupa Bojowa I-2010.jpg|25px]] [[Battlegroup I-2010]]<ref name="Polish-led">Also known as the Polish-led Battlegroup.</ref>
|Poland
|Germany, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania
|[[Międzyrzecz]]
|
|-
|[[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[UK–Dutch Battlegroup]]
|United Kingdom
|The Netherlands
|London
|1500
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
|[[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Italian-Romanian-Turkish Battlegroup]]
|Italy
|Romania and Turkey
|Rome
|
|-
|[[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Spain, France, Portugal
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|
|
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2011
! rowspan=2 | I
|[[File:Battlegroup 107.jpg|25px]] [[Battlegroup 107]] (EUBG 2011/1)
|Netherlands
|Germany, Finland, Austria and Lithuania
|{{Unknown}}
|c. 2350<ref name="Einde oefening">{{Cite web |url=https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2010/10/12/einde-oefening-vormt-start-eu-battlegroup-video |title=Einde oefening vormt start EU-Battlegroup (video) |work=Defensie.nl |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands]] |date=12 October 2010 |access-date=9 July 2015 |language=nl}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of the Nordic Battlegroup.svg|25px]] [[Nordic Battlegroup]] (NBG11)
|Sweden
|Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Norway<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/irish-troops-on-exercises-in-sweden-26700941.html |title=Irish troops on exercises in Sweden |author=Tom Brady |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=19 November 2010 |access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref> and Croatia<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2010/11/nytt-avtal-pa-gang-om-kroatiska-helikoptrar/ |title=New agreement on the time of Croatian helicopters |publisher=[[Swedish Armed Forces]] |date=17 November 2010 |access-date=11 July 2015 |language=sv}}</ref>
|[[Enköping]]
|1500
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
|[[File:Coat of arms of Eurofor.svg|25px]] [[Eurofor]] (Eurofor EUBG 2011–2)<ref name=machado>{{cite web|url=http://www.operacional.pt/eurofor-european-union-battle-group-2011-2/ |title=Eurofor European Union Battle Group 2011-2 |first=Miguel |last=Machado |date=19 October 2010 |language=pt, en |work=Operacional|access-date=2010-10-20}}</ref>
|Portugal
|Spain, Italy, France
|[[Florence]]
|
|-
|[[File:Coat of arms of the Balkan Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Balkan Battlegroup]]<ref name=machado/>
|Greece
|Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Ukraine<ref name="Turner">{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/leighturner/2011/07/11/ukraine-joins-eu-battle-group/ |title=Ukraine joins EU battle group |author=Leigh Turner |work=Foreign Office blogs |publisher=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] |date=11 July 2011 |access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref>
|Larissa
|1500
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2012
! rowspan=2 | I
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French–Belgian–Luxembourgish Battlegroup]]
| France
| Belgium and Luxembourg
| [[Fort Mont-Valérien|Mont-Valérien]]
|
|-
| vacant<ref name="signposts"/>
| –
| –
| –
| 
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
| [[File:Multinational Land Force.png|25px]] [[Multinational Land Force]]
| Italy
| Hungary and Slovenia.
| Udine
|
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[German–Czech–Austrian Battlegroup]]
| Germany
| Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, North Macedonia, Ireland<ref name="Volpi"/>
| [[Ulm]]
|
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2013
! rowspan=2 | I
| [[File:Weimar Battlegroup.jpg|25px]] [[Weimar Battlegroup]] (EU BG I/2013)
| Poland
| Germany and France
| [[Międzyrzecz]]
| 
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Belgium, Luxembourg, France (unconfirmed)<ref name="GloSec">{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/eu-battlegroups.htm |title=EU Battlegroup |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref>
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|{{Unknown}}
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Battlegroup 42]]<ref name="Atlcom"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-marines-train-on-salisbury-plain |title=Royal Marines train on Salisbury Plain |work=[[Gov.uk]] |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]/[[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]] |date=21 May 2013 |access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>
| United Kingdom
| Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden and the Netherlands
| [[London]]
|
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Belgium (unconfirmed)<ref name="Volpi"/>
| Belgium
| 
| 
| 
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2014
! rowspan=2 | I
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Balkan Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Balkan Battlegroup]]
| Greece
| Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Ukraine<ref name="Nestoras">{{Cite book |last=Nestoras |first=Antonios |date=19 May 2015 |title=The Common Security and Defence Policy: National Perspectives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rs9xCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA62 |publisher=Academia Press |page=62 |isbn=978-9038225241 |access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref>
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of None.svg|25px]] Sweden, Finland (unconfirmed)<ref name="signposts"/>
| Sweden
| 
| 
| 
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[EUBG 2014 II]]<ref name="EUBG 2014 II">{{Cite web |url=https://www.defensie.nl/documenten/brochures/2014/06/27/infographic-eu-battlegroup |title=Infographic EU-Battlegroup en Nederlandse deelname |work=Defensie.nl |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands]] |date=27 June 2014 |access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref>
| Belgium
| Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands and North Macedonia
|
| 2500–3700
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Hispano–Italian Amphibious Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Spanish–Italian Amphibious Battlegroup]]<ref name="signposts"/>
| Spain<ref name="signposts"/>
| Italy<ref name="signposts"/>
| 
| 
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2015
! rowspan=2 | I
| [[File:Coat of Arms of the Nordic Battlegroup.svg|25px]] [[Nordic Battlegroup]] (NBG15)
| Sweden
| Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ireland<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/about/our-mission-in-sweden-and-abroad/international-activities-and-operations/nordic-battle-group/ |title=Nordic Battlegroup NBG15 |publisher=Swedish Armed Forces |date=31 December 2014 |access-date=11 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706234146/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/about/our-mission-in-sweden-and-abroad/international-activities-and-operations/nordic-battle-group/ |archive-date=6 July 2015 }}</ref>
| [[France]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.delfi.lt/lithuania/defence/lithuanian-rotation-actively-preparing-for-standby-for-eu-battlegroup-next-year.d?id=65337708|title=Lithuanian rotation actively preparing for standby for EU Battlegroup next year |date=19 July 2014 |work=[[Delfi (web portal)|DELFI]] |access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref>
| 
|-
| vacant<ref name="signposts"/>
| –
| –
| –
| 
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French–Belgian Battlegroup]]
| France<ref name="signposts"/>
| Belgium
| 
| 
|-
| vacant<ref name="signposts"/>
| –
| –
| –
| 
|-
! rowspan=4 | 2016
! rowspan=2 | I
| [[File:Visegrad group.png|25px]] [[Visegrád Battlegroup]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forsal.pl/artykuly/687739,nowa_wyszehradzka_grupa_bojowa_polska_na_czele.html|title=Nowa Wyszehradzka Grupa Bojowa: Polska na czele|language=pl|date=7 March 2013|access-date=2013-03-10}}</ref>
| Poland
| Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine<ref name="BratDec"/><ref name="V4">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/v4_invites_ukraine_to_set_up_joint_military_unit_322379 |title=V4 invites Ukraine to set up joint military unit |work=[[Ukrinform]] |publisher=Ukrainian Government |date=4 June 2014 |access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref>
| [[Kraków]]
| 3700
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Balkan Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Balkan Battlegroup]]
| Greece
| Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Ukraine
|
|
|-
! rowspan=2 | II
| [[File:EUBG2016-2.png|25px]] [[German–Czech–Austrian Battlegroup]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.oe-journal.at/index_up.htm?http://www.oe-journal.at/Aktuelles/!2015/0615/W5/30207bmlvs.htm |title=Klug bei Battlegroup-Übung in Allentsteig |work=Österreich Journal |date=2 July 2015 |access-date=10 July 2015 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://kurier.at/politik/eu/oesterreich-soll-an-eu-battlegroup-2016-teilnehmen/51.832.514 |title=Österreich soll an EU-Battlegroup 2016 teilnehmen |work=[[Kurier]] |date=18 February 2014 |access-date=11 July 2015 |language=de |archive-date=24 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724165212/http://kurier.at/politik/eu/oesterreich-soll-an-eu-battlegroup-2016-teilnehmen/51.832.514 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| Germany
| Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
| 
| 1500–2500 
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[British-led Battlegroup]]
| United Kingdom
| Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Ukraine
| 
|
|-
! rowspan=4| 2017
! rowspan=2| I
| [[File:Multinational Land Force.png|25px]] [[Multinational Land Force]]
| Italy
| Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French–Belgian Battlegroup]]
| France
| Belgium
| 
| 
|-
! rowspan=2| II
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Hispano–Italian Amphibious Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Spanish–Italian Amphibious Battlegroup|Spanish-led Battlegroup]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Spain is leading the EU Battle Group |url=http://www.ejercito.mde.es/en/reportajes/2017/42_espana_frente_battle_group.html |website=ejercito.mde.es |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref>
| Spain
| Italy, Portugal
| [[Bétera]]
| 2500
|-
| [[File:Multinational Land Force.png|25px]] [[Multinational Land Force]]
| Italy
| Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia
| 
| 
|-
! rowspan=4| 2018
! rowspan=2| I
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Balkan Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Balkan Battlegroup]]
| Greece
| Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Ukraine
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Benelux Battlegroup]]
| Netherlands
| Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg
| 
| 
|-
! rowspan=2| II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Benelux Battlegroup]]
| Netherlands
| Austria, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg 
| 
| 2500–3700
|-
| vacant
| –
| –
| –
| –
|-
! rowspan=4| 2019
! rowspan=2| I
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Spanish-led Battlegroup]]
| Spain
| Italy, Portugal
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French–Belgian Battlegroup]]<ref name="Verheyde">{{cite web |title=La prise d'astreinte française au battlegroup 2019 se prépare|url=https://www.bruxelles2.eu/2018/10/30/la-prise-dastreinte-francaise-au-battlegroup-se-prepare/|website=B2 Bruexelles2|date=30 October 2018 |access-date=30 September 2019}}</ref> 
| France
| Belgium
| [[Mont Valérien]]
| 
|-
! rowspan=2| II
| [[File:Visegrad group.png|25px]] [[Visegrád Battlegroup]]<ref name="BratDec"/><ref>{{cite web |title=V4 EU Battlegroup to be on standby again from 1 July 2019 |url=https://www.mosr.sk/44956-en/bojova-skupina-eu-krajin-v4-bude-od-jula-opat-v-pohotovosti/ |website=Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic |access-date=18 September 2019}}</ref>
| Poland
| Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia
| [[Kraków]]
| 2250
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[French-led Battlegroup]]<ref name="Verheyde"/>
| France
|
| [[Mont Valérien]]
| 
|-
! rowspan=4| 2020
! rowspan=2| I
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Balkan Battle Group.svg|25px]] [[Balkan Battlegroup]]
| Greece
| Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Ukraine and Serbia
| 
| 
|-
| vacant
| –
| –
| –
| –
|-
! rowspan=2| II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[German-Czech-Austrian Battlegroup]] (EU Battlegroup 2020–2)<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/>
| Germany
| Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands and Sweden
| [[Ulm]]<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/>
| 4100
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[Italian-led Battlegroup]]
| Italy
| Greece, Spain
| 
|  
|-
! rowspan=4| 2021
! rowspan=2| I
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] [[German-Czech-Austrian Battlegroup]] (EU Battlegroup 2020–2)<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/>
| Germany
| Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands and Sweden
| [[Ulm]]<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/>
| 4100
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
! rowspan=2| II
| vacant<ref name="DW Borrell"/>
| –
| –
| –
| –
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
! rowspan=4| 2022
! rowspan=2| I
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
! rowspan=2| II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
! rowspan=4| 2023
! rowspan=2| I
| [[File:Visegrad group.png|25px]] [[Visegrád Battlegroup]]<ref name="Lidovky">{{cite web |title=Ministři obrany V4 se dohodli na vytvoření další společné evropské bojové skupiny |url=https://www.lidovky.cz/svet/ministri-obrany-v4-se-dohodli-na-vytvoreni-dalsi-spolecne-evropske-bojove-skupiny.A181115_164448_ln_zahranici_ele |website=Lidovky.cz |access-date=23 February 2019 |language=cs |date=15 November 2018}}</ref>
| ?
| the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland<ref name="Lidovky"/>
| ?
| ?
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
! rowspan=2| II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
! rowspan=4| 2025
! 12 months<ref name="Vindobona"/>
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] EU Battlegroup 2025<ref name="Vindobona"/> (EU RDC<ref name="Vindobona"/>)
| Germany, Netherlands<ref name="Vindobona"/>
| Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Sweden, others<ref name="Vindobona"/>
| [[Ulm]]<ref name="Bundeswehr Journal"/>
| 5,000<ref name="Vindobona"/>
|-
|}

<!-- TEMPLATE FOR ONE YEAR:
|-
! rowspan=4| 20XX
! rowspan=2| I
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
! rowspan=2| II
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
| [[File:Coats of arms of None.svg|25px]] Battlegroup Name
| Framework nation
| Other participants
| HQ
| Size
|-
-->

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.<ref>[http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2625602&C=navwar EU To Include Air, Naval Forces in Battle Group Concept] defensenews.com 19 March 2007 {{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=July 2013}}

===Recurring formations===
*[[Nordic Battlegroup]]
*[[Balkan Battlegroup]]
*[[Visegrád Battlegroup]]
*[[Multinational Land Force]]
*[[Spanish–Italian Amphibious Battlegroup]]

===Niche capabilities===
The following Member States have also offered niche capabilities in support of the EU Battlegroups:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldselect/ldeucom/16/16100.htm |title=EU Battlegroups – Annex A: Battlegroup Concept |access-date=2006-08-26 |date=19 February 2005 |publisher=United Kingdom Parliament }}</ref>

* [[Cyprus]] (medical group)
* [[Lithuania]] (a water purification unit)
* [[Greece]] (the Athens Sealift Co-ordination Centre)
* [[France]] (structure of a multinational and deployable Force Headquarters)

=== Further details on specific contributions ===
[[File:Nordic Battle Group ISTAR Training - Sniper (5014199913).jpg|thumb|Nordic Battlegroup sniper training at [[Kilworth]], Ireland]]
* [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] announced the creation of a joint [[Nordic Battlegroup]]. To make up the required 1500 number, they also urged [[Norway]] to contribute to the Battlegroup despite that country not being part of the EU. Recently, the number has been raised to 2400 troops with Sweden providing 2000 of these. According to Swedish newspapers the price for the 6 months in 2008 was 1.2 billion [[Swedish kronor]] (app. 150,000,000 euros) and the Battlegroup was not used.<ref>along with 80 bomb disposal and communication specialists from Ireland and 45 from Estonia. {{cite web|url=http://www.mil.se/index.php?lang=E&c=news&id=32771 |title=Inauguration of the Nordic Battle Group Headquarters |access-date=2006-08-26 |author=Ulf K. Rask |date=29 May 2006 |publisher=Försvarsmakten |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060824044530/http://www.mil.se/index.php?lang=E&c=news&id=32771 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 24 August 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Finland]] is expected to commit troops trained to combat [[chemical warfare|chemical]] and [[biological weapon]]s, among other units such as a [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] company.
* [[Lithuania]] is expected to offer experts in water purification.
* [[Greece]] is pledging troops with maritime transport skills.
* [[Ireland]] has offered [[Ordnance Corps (Ireland)|bomb disposal experts]] among its contribution.

The Battlegroups project is not to be confused{{citation needed|date=July 2015|reason=Aren't they the same?}} with the projected [[Helsinki Headline Goal]] force, which concerns up to 60,000 soldiers, deployable for at least a year, and take one to two months to deploy. The Battlegroups are instead meant for more rapid and shorter deployment in international crises, probably preparing the ground for a larger and more traditional force to replace them in due time.

=== Western Balkans Battlegroup proposal ===
In 2010, a group of experts from the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy proposed the establishment of a Western Balkans Battlegroup by 2020. In a policy vision titled "Towards a Western Balkans Battlegroup: A vision of Serbia's Defence Integration into the EU 2010-2020",<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bezbednost.org/upload/document/1104041204_policy_paper_br__1-.pdf |title=Towards a Western Balkans Battlegroup |author1=Filip Ejdus |author2=Marko Savković |author3=Nataša Dragojlović |publisher=Belgrade Centre for Security Policy |date=May 2010 |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184126/http://www.bezbednost.org/upload/document/1104041204_policy_paper_br__1-.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> they argued that the creation of such a Battlegroup would not only be an accelerating factor in the accession of the former Yugoslav republics into the EU, but also a strong symbolic message of reconciliation and security community reconstruction after the [[Yugoslav Wars|devastating wars of the 1990s]]. Furthermore, the authors of the study argued that such a Western Balkan Battlegroup, notwithstanding all the political challenges, would have a very high linguistic, cultural and military interoperability. Although decision makers initially showed a weak interest in the Western Balkans Battlegroup, the idea has recently reappeared in the parliamentary discussions in [[Serbia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otvoreniparlament.rs/2014/09/08/572449/page/19/|title=Otvoreni parlament – Strana 19|work=otvoreniparlament.rs|access-date=25 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018022936/http://www.otvoreniparlament.rs/2014/09/08/572449/page/19/|archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>

== Exercises ==
[[File:European Battle Group Excercise 140222-A-OO646-129.jpg|thumb|Dutch artillery exercise in Grafenwoehr, Germany, 2014]]
In 2008, the EU Battlegroup conducted wargames to protect the first-ever free elections in the imaginary country of Vontinalys.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2008/06/in_defence_of_europe.html Enter In defence of Europe] BBC News 5 June 2008</ref> In June 2014, [[EUBG 2014 II]] with 3,000 troops from Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, [[North Macedonia]], the Netherlands and Spain conducted a training exercise in the [[Ardennes]], codenamed 'Quick Lion', to prevent ethnic violence between the "Greys" and the "Whites" in the imaginary country of "Blueland".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.npo.nl/slag-om-europa/15-09-2014/VPWON_1226733 |title=De Slag om Europa: Een Europees leger |author1=Roland Duong |author2=Teun van de Keuken |work=De slag om Europa |publisher=[[Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (organization)|NPO]] |date=15 September 2014 |access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/957/Binnenland/article/detail/1908272/2014/06/04/3-000-Europese-militairen-oefenen-in-Wallonie.dhtml |title=3.000 Europese militairen oefenen in Wallonië |work=[[Het Laatste Nieuws]] |date=4 June 2014 |access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF)]]
* [[EUFOR]]
* [[European Union Military Staff]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{Cite journal |last=Lindstrom |first=Gustav |date=February 2007 |title=Enter the EU Battlegroups |url=https://www.iss.europa.eu/content/enter-eu-battlegroups |journal=[[Chaillot Paper]] |publisher=[[European Union Institute for Security Studies]] |issue=97 |access-date=7 July 2015}}

== Further reading ==
*Balossi-Restelli, L.M., 2011. Fit for what? Explaining Battlegroup inaction. European security, 20 (2), 155–184. doi: 10.1080/09662839.2011.564767
*Gowan, R., 2009. The case of the missing Battlegroups: Is EU-UN military cooperation in decline? Studia diplomatica, LXII (3), 53–61.
*Yf Reykers, [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09662839.2016.1205978 "No supply without demand: explaining the absence of the EU Battlegroups in Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic,"] ''European Security'' Volume 25, 2016 – Issue 3. 
*Reykers, Y., 2016. Hurry up and wait: EU Battlegroups and a UN rapid reaction force [online]. Global Peace Operations Review. (http://peaceoperationsreview.org/thematic-essays/hurry-up-and-wait-eu-battlegroups-and-a-un-rapid-reaction-force/)

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Battlegroups of the European Union}}
*{{Official|https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headQuarters-homepage/33557/eu-battlegroups_en}}
**[https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/factsheet_battlegroups.pdf ''Factsheet'' (2017)], [[European External Action Service]]
* [http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/esdp/91624.pdf ''Factsheet'' (2013)], [[Council of the European Union]]
* [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/091006eubattlegroups_/091006eubattlegroups_en.pdf ''Factsheet'' (2006)], [[European Parliament]]
* {{Cite web |url=http://europarltv.europa.eu/en/player.aspx?pid=cc80c697-254d-4f81-88c3-a4bc009f92ff |title=Has the EU army's time come? |work=europarltv.eu |publisher=[[European Parliament]] |date=24 June 2015 |access-date=8 July 2015}}
* [http://www.europeandefenceconcept.eu A proposed evolution in the Eurocorps and ESDI in NATO]

{{EU Battlegroups}}
{{Common Security and Defence Policy}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Battlegroups of the European Union| ]]