View source for European Rapid Operational Force

{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name           = Eurofor
|image               = Coat of arms of the European Rapid Operational Force.svg
|image_size          = 190px
|caption             =
|country             = 
|allegiance          = {{EU}}
|type                = [[Rapid reaction force]]
|branch              =
|dates               = 1995–2012<ref name=Rapporto>{{Cite web |url=http://www.esercito.difesa.it/comunicazione/editoria/Rapporto-Esercito/Documents/Rapporto_Esercito_2012.pdf |title=Army Report 2012 (p. 23) |work=Italian Army website |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Italy)|Ministry of Defence of Italy]] |date=2012 |access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref>
|specialization      =
|command_structure   = 
|size                = 12,000 (1995)<ref name="Koele"/>
|current_commander   =
|garrison            = [[Florence]]<ref name="Koele"/>
|ceremonial_chief    =
|nickname            =
|motto               =
|colors              =
|march               =
|battles             = [[Albania]]<br>[[Republic of Macedonia|North Macedonia]]
|notable_commanders  =
|anniversaries       =     
}}
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]].<ref name=Rapporto/> It had a permanent staff capable of commanding operations, involving commitments of up to a Light [[Division (military)|Division]] in size. Eurofor was formed in May 1995 in [[Lisbon]], and was answerable to the [[Western European Union]] (WEU) directly.<ref name="Koele">{{Cite news |url=http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/5009/Archief/article/detail/2469719/1995/05/19/Weu-wapent-zich-tegen-Noordafrikaanse-invasie.dhtml |title=Weu wapent zich tegen Noordafrikaanse invasie |author=Theo Koele |work=[[Trouw]] |date=19 May 1995 |access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> It was tasked with performing [[Petersberg tasks]], including [[humanitarian]], [[peacekeeping]] 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]]. It was eventually transformed into an [[EU Battlegroup]] and was on standby from 1 July until 31 December 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.operacional.pt/eurofor-european-union-battle-group-2011-2/ |title=Eurofor European Union Battle Group 2011-2 |author=Miguel Machado |work=operacional.pt |date=19 October 2010 |access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref> On 2 July 2012, Eurofor was dissolved.<ref name=Rapporto/>

==Operations==
[[File:Ribbon bar of the Eurofor Service Medal.svg|thumb|132px|The ribbon bar of the Eurofor Service Medal]]
Eurofor has been involved in three deployments:<ref name=Rapporto/>
*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 Battlegroup]]

==References==
{{Commons category|European Rapid Operational Force}}
{{Reflist}}

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

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Western European Union]]
[[Category:Military history of the European Union]]
[[Category:Rapid reaction force units and formations]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1995]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Battlegroups of the European Union]]
[[Category:Florence]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Italy]]
[[Category:2012 disestablishments in Italy]]
[[Category:1995 in the European Union]]
[[Category:2012 in the European Union]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1995]]
[[Category:Government agencies disestablished in 2012]]