European Rapid Reaction Force

Force of up to 60,000 soldiers provided by member states of the European Union (EU) for peacekeeping or humanitarian relief purposes. EU members agreed to set up an ERRF at a summit in December 1999, although the agreement was not finalized until 2004. It became operational for limited missions in 2001 and has been classed as fully operational from January 2007, with the capability of deploying 60,000 troops within 60 days and sustaining this ground force for at least a year. It is not a European standing army or designed to fight wars. Its headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.