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HISTORY​

We take you through the key moments and milestones that have shaped our past, highlighting the events and people that have played a vital role in the development of our story.

Ground zero of European deffense

EUROCORPS HISTORY

After WWII exposed the need for genuine understanding among European nations to secure lasting peace, this principle guided the signing of the La Rochelle Report creating Eurocorps and later the 1993 SACEUR Agreement defining its role within NATO.

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2011
2015
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2020
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1992

1993

1998

2002

2009

2016

2019

2021

1992

22 MAI 1992

SIGNATURE OF THE LA ROCHELLE REPORT

At the 59th Franco-German summit in La Rochelle, French President François Mitterrand and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl sign the Rapport de la Rochelle, officially creating the Eurocorps.

SUMMER 1992

ARRIVAL FRENCH AND GERMAN OFFICERS

Already in summer 1992, applying the fait accompli policy, a few officers settled down near the cathedral in the Sturm barracks, long before Strasbourg was officially appointed to accommodate the headquarters. A month after the signature of the Report of La Rochelle, French and German officers formed the core of the “Eurocorps Building-up Staff”. Since then, Eurocorps has become a familiar institution in Alsace. The comrades of personnel kept increasing, especially with the arrival of our Belgian friends starting in September 1993. In 1994, the branches of the staff moved to the Aubert-de-Vincelles compound and into their new premises.

1993

21 JANUARY 1993

SIGNATURE OF THE SACEUR AGREEMENT

Signed on January 21, 1993, the SACEUR Agreement defines the conditions of use of Eurocorps within NATO. This agreement details the missions, the necessary know-how in terms of engagement planning and the subordination of the Eurocorps to a NATO Commander-in-Chief.

25 JUNE 1993

INTEGRATION OF BELGIUM

The Belgian government decides to join the Eurocorps as a framework nation. The first Belgian soldiers arrived in September of the same year. The bulk of the contingent followed in the summer of 1994.

1994

1 JULY 1994

INTEGRATION OF SPAIN

The Spanish government decides to join the Eurocorps as a framework nation. The first Spanish officiers arrived in the same summer.

1995

30 NOVEMBER 1995

DECLARED OPERATIONAL

At a ceremony at the icy Laon-Couvron airfield (France), attended by the defense ministers of the Eurocorps framework nations, the commanding general, Lieutenant General Helmut Willmann, declares the Eurocorps operational.

1996

7 MAY 1996

LUXEMBOURG JOINS US

The Luxembourg liaison officer, present since 1995, is now a full member of the Eurocorps staff. Following a decision by its government, Luxembourg is joining Eurocorps.

1998

23 JUNE 1998

FIRST MISSION: SFOR

The first Eurocorps commitment was also the first operation in which a European staff took the command of a NATO force. The reconstruction phase in the province had to be started. The aim was to restore the fundamental structures in Kosovo. The tasks were huge: The UCK (Kosovo Liberation Army) had to be transformed, violence and organized crime were still raging, judicial structures and legislation were non-existent, a multi-ethnic police body had to be formed, the public health situation was concerning and the medical infrastructure had to be rebuilt.

1999

3 JUNE 1999

EUROCORPS AVAILABLE FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION

At the European Summit in Köln (3-4 June 1999) the European Union wished to have multinational forces prepared for crisis management in the future. The Eurocorps framework nations declared that Eurocorps would be available for use by the EU.

2000

18 APRIL 2000

COMMANDING KFOR III

The first 80 Eurocorps soldiers leave Strasbourg on March 5, 2000. On April 18, 2000, Lieutenant General Ortuno took over from German General Reinhardt in the presence of SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander Europe), US General Wesley Clark. 350 Eurocorps troops took part in this operation, to which units from 39 countries contributed. This is the first time that a European headquarters outside the Alliance's integrated military structure has taken command of NATO forces.

2002

2002

CERTIFIED AS NATO HIGH READINESS FORCE

North Atlantic Council certified Eurocorps as NATO Rapid Deployable Corps, Full Operational Capable (FOC).

2004

9 AUGUST 2004

EUROCORPS COMMANDER BECOMES COMMANDER ISAF

10 a.m. local time, Kabul: Lieutenant General Jean-Louis PY takes command of ISAF VI. Under the chairmanship of German Lieutenant General Gerhard Back, Canadian Lieutenant General Rick Hillier hands over command. ISAF VI fulfills its mission by preparing for free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections.

2006

1 JULY 2006

NRF 7 STANDBY PERIOD

From 1 July to December 31 2006, Eurocorps is on standby for the 7th rotation of the NATO Response Force (NRF 7).

2009

18 APRIL 2009

ENTRY INTO FORCE OF “TREATY OF STRASBOURG”

On 26 February 2009, the Treaty of Strasbourg, concluded in Brussels on 22 November 2004, came into force following ratification by the framework nations. This treaty gives the Eurocorps a unique status among other military formations, giving it its own legal capacity and clarifying the status of its headquarters and personnel.

2011

1 NOVEMBER 2011

EUROCORPS COMMANDER BECOMES CHIEF OF STAFF ISAF

On 1 November 2011, Lieutenant General Olivier de Bavinchove, Commander of Eurocorps, took up his duties as Chief of Staff of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), commanded by US General John Allen. At the same time, General de Bavinchove is acting as national representative for all French forces deployed in Afghanistan. Together with its Spanish counterpart in Valencia (the NRDC-ESP), Eurocorps is deployed in Afghanistan from January 2012 to January 2013. This period was marked by the transfer of responsibilities to Afghan security forces, the start of the gradual withdrawal of coalition forces, and the reorganization of the operation's command structure.

2015

28 JULY 2015

EUTM MALI

Eurocorps Chief of Staff Brigadier General Franz Pfrengle assumes command of the European Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) in Bamako. Attended by the defense ministers of Mali, Germany, Spain and Austria, the transfer of authority also marks Eurocorps' first commitment under the banner of the European Union.

2016

18 JANUARY 2016

EU MILITARY STAFF AND EUROCORPS SIGNED COOPERATION AGREEMENT

The Director General of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS), Lieutenant General Wolfgang Wosolsobe, and the Commanding General of Eurocorps, Lieutenant General Alfredo Ramίrez, sign a letter of intent in Brussels. The EUMS and Eurocorps express their mutual interest in developing close relations, coordinating their work on common objectives and establishing a framework for bilateral cooperation. This framework will include the exchange of information, the pooling of training and education, and more effective crisis response. The agreement will also facilitate Eurocorps' accession to the status of the EU's preferred military tool for the full range of crisis management operations.

21 JULY 2016

EUTM RCA

In accordance with the decision of the Council of the European Union, Eurocorps deputy commander General Eric Hautecloque-Raysz takes command of the European Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM CAR) for the second half of 2016. With its contingent of around 70 soldiers, Eurocorps provides the core of the headquarters in Bangui.

2019

22 NOVEMBER 2019

NRF: CERTIFICATE AS LAND COMPONENT COMMAND

In Stavanger, hundreds of soldiers gather at NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre to undergo certification as the Land Component Command of the NATO Response Force. The training involves multiple phases, including battle staff preparation and a major NATO exercise simulating high-intensity warfare. The soldiers also manage complex logistical tasks, relying on technology and teamwork. After two months of intense work and evaluation, EUROCORPS receives official certification, prepared for NRF-standby phase.

2020

8 JANUARY 2020

NRF: STANDBY PHASE LAND COMPONENT COMMAND

In the lead for NRF, Eurocorps is ready to command and control the land forces of the NATO Response Forces in case of a crisis. Thus Eurocorps is able to lead up to 65.000 soldiers with the very short warning times of a few days. The NRF-standby phase ends in January 2021.

2021

JANUARY 2021

EUTM MALI

Eurocorps will provide the key personnel in European Traning Mission in Mali for two rotations starting in January 2021, i.e. for about one year. The key personnel will consist of the Mission Force Commander and some 70 other soldiers who will be stationed at Headquarters, the Advisory Group or the Training Task Force. The composition is multinational, but Spain has taken the lead for the first rotation and Germany for the second.

SEPTEMBER 2021

EUTM RCA

Eurocorps will provide the key personnel in European Traning Mission in Central African Republic for two rotations starting in September 2021, i.e. for about one year. The composition is multinational, but French has taken the lead for the first rotation and Belgium for the second.

16 DECEMBER 2021

POLAND BECOMES THE SIXTH FRAMEWORK NATION

End of November 2021, the Republic of Poland agreed to became a EUROCORPS Framework Nation by signing a “Joint Declaration of Intent”. One month after the expected signing of the “Note of Accession”, Poland became the sixth Framework Nation of EUROCORPS.

2023

28 NOVEMBER 2023

CERTIFIED AND ON STANDBY AS NATO JOINT TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS

After having been NATO-certified in December during Exercise Steadfast Jackal 2023 (STJA23), EUROCORPS is now on a one-year standby as the Joint Task Force Headquarters (JTF HQ) from January 1st, 2024 until December 31st , 2024. In the event of an activation, EC would be deployed in the framework of a peacekeeping, evacuation of nationals, crisis management, humanitarian assistance, or disaster relief mission.

2024

2024

JTF HQ 24 - JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS

From January 1st until December 31st 2024. EUROCORPS was in stand by to be deployed for crisis response operations, peace support operations, non-combat evacuation operations, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.And in support of Irelands EUBG25 commitment, ten Irish Officers and NCOs have deployed to EUBG (F)HQ EUROCORPS in Strasbourg end 2024.

2025

2025

FHQ 25 OF THE EUBG 25 IN RDC CONTEXT

Force Headquarters (FHQ 25) of the EU Battle Group (EUBG 25) in the framework of its Rapid Deployable Capacity (RDC).