Linked with NATO Command structure and the Command and Control (C2) of the European Union’s (EU) missions, EUROCORPS still keeps its autonomy and is available for both organizations after a unanimous decision of the Framework Nations taken by the Common Committee (decisive body of EUROCORPS). Since its early creation, agreements were signed to put EUROCORPS at the disposal of both entities. The SACEUR agreement of 21 January 1993 allows EUROCORPS to be put under NATO command when needed and regulates the information exchange and training between both partners in peacetime. The SACEUR agreement was amended in 2002, linked to EUROCORPS’ certification as High Readiness Force(HRF – Rapid Reaction Corps).
SFOR 1998 – 2000
NATO STABILIZATION FORCE
KFOR III – 2000
NATO KOSOVO FORCE
ISAF VI – 2004
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
ASSISTANCE FORCE
ISAF VI – 2012
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
ASSISTANCE FORCE
HRF – 2002
HIGH READINESS FORCE
NRF 7 – 2006
NATO RESPONSE FORCE
NRF 15 – 2010
NATO RESPONSE FORCE
NRF – 2020
NATO RESPONSE FORCE
JTFHQ – 2024 JOINT TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS
After the Second World War which put an end to centuries of internal struggles on the European continent, the total destruction and the millions of lives lost made realize that the solution could only be found in peaceful understanding between the European nations.
SFOR
The Eurocorps experienced its first commitment in a NATO operation when the soldiers of the Staff and the Headquarters Support Battalion were deployed to Sarajevo in 1998. On 27th February 1998, the Eurocorps Common Committee decided to put a contingent of 150 Eurocorps service members at the disposal of the headquarters of the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia- Herzegovina (SFOR) for 18 months in three successive rotations. The first Eurocorps contingent arrived on 13th May 1998. The second and third rotation respectively stayed in Bosnia from January to June 1999 and from July to December 1999. Beside to the increased media interest for the Eurocorps, the SFOR mission gave the headquarters and above all its personnel the required NATO experience for future missions.
On 28th January 2000, the North Atlantic Council accepted a proposal made by the five Eurocorps framework nations. 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. New municipal authorities were needed since the former ones had gone with the Yugoslavian authorities. This meant elections had to be organized.
5th-16th November 2001
Nearly one year before (in 2000), Eurocorps had successfully returned from its mission in Kosovo. The structures of the corps have been adapted for the transformation into a rapid reaction corps. The COBRA exercise was a full part of the transformation, serving as a halfway balance.
5th-16th September 2002
The capstone event of the entire certification process was exercise COMMON EFFORT 2002 in September. Under the eyes of the Deployable Headquarters Task Force as well as NATO’s and national top brass, Headquarters Eurocorps successfully demonstrated the requirements established by Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) as well as the capabilities needed to rapidly deploy into an austere environment wherever decided and to seamlessly assume and exercise the command and control of a force of up to 60,000 soldiers in the most challenging operational missions.
The process of High Readiness Force certification and the newly gained capabilities were complemented by some other important activities in 2002: a multinational combined joint live firing exercise THOR in Spain, the shift to English as the daily operational and working language, as well as the renewed SACEUR arrangement.
ISAF VI
From 9th August 2004 till 9th February 2005, Eurocorps took part in the ISAF VI (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) with its Staff and the French-German Brigade. The Eurocorps Staff provided more than half of the personnel strength of HQ ISAF.
The change of command between General Hillier (CAN) and General Py (FRA), Commanding General Eurocorps, took place on 9th August in Kabul. The main effort at the beginning of the ISAF VI mission was to assist the Afghan authorities and the UN in organizing the presidential elections that took place on 9th October 2004. The second priority was to ensure the smooth unfolding of the ceremony for the inauguration of Mr Karzai, the newly elected president.
Add Your Heading Text Here
Add Your Heading Text Here
ISAF VI
The preparation for NRF 7 reminded us of the paramount importance of interoperability. Beyond many issues, that had to be solved in that respect, it must be mentioned the fact, that the French-German Brigade, as the NRF Brigade, demonstrated its capacity to integrate additional units from other nations. The fact that most of them originated from Eurocorps Framework Nations did obviously help. Nevertheless, it became very clear, that rotations of partners and ad hoc or composite arrangements required time and again collective training. Capitalizing on stable organisations such as Headquarters Eurocorps, the French-German brigade and the other dedicated and affiliated units were a more realistic and affordable option. Finally, the members of EUROCORPS worked
15th-28th June 2006
This exercise in the Cape Verde Islands was a highlight for Eurocorps in its preparations for NRF 7 and its role as Land Component Command (LCC). The Eurocorps successfully demonstrated its strategic deployment capability by Moving personnel and equipment over a distance of about 4,700 km to the island of Saõ Vicente. In addition to meeting the demands and challenges of the exercise, cooperating with the local authorities and establishing good relations with the local people – as in a real operation – were critical. LCC soldiers also provided assistance in removing obsolete and surplus ammunition as well as repairing of civilian and military infrastructure.
From 9th August 2004 till 9th February 2005, Eurocorps took part in the ISAF VI (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) with its Staff and the French-German Brigade. The Eurocorps Staff provided more than half of the personnel strength of HQ ISAF.
The change of command between General Hillier (CAN) and General Py (FRA), Commanding General Eurocorps, took place on 9th August in Kabul. The main effort at the beginning of the ISAF VI mission was to assist the Afghan authorities and the UN in organizing the presidential elections that took place on 9th October 2004. The second priority was to ensure the smooth unfolding of the ceremony for the inauguration of Mr Karzai, the newly elected president.
17th-25th March 2010
Eurocorps’s certification exercise as NRF 15 Land Component Command. The Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL) team verified Eurocorps’s ability to assume its NATO assignment. NFC Heidelberg’s team conducted an in-depth evaluation of roughly 1,200 performance parameters. 1,300 soldiers and civilians from 17 nations trained together. This was the first step, because in a month, Eurocorps came back for the final exercise.
3rd-15th May 2010
It was part of a series of certification exercises organised by Allied Command Operations. The aim was to prepare our headquarters for a joint level of command for NRF 15 . Other components were activated in other locations. The exercise allowed to evaluate the capability of Eurocorps as LCC to interact with naval and air forces, and to finally certify the combat readiness of the whole NRF 15 package.
NRF 15
ISAF VI
After an intensive preparation for the ISAF mission, the first wave of Eurocorps personnel, including Brigadier General Thierry Corbet and other Eurocorps key personnel flew from Ramstein to Kabul International Airport on 10th January 2012 in order to assume important posts within the International Joint Command (IJC). The well-prepared and operationally minded EC personnel quickly got down into business and, throughout their deployment, gained respect for their professionalism and fully contributed to the IJC motto “make it matter”. Lieutenant General Olivier de Bavinchove (Commanding General Eurocorps and Chief of Staff ISAF) did indeed further enhance the « esprit de corps » of Eurocorps. Two rotations of six months saw some 300 Eurocorps members serve in Afghanistan throughout 2012.
Add Your Heading Text Here
Add Your Heading Text Here
NRF 15
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec mattis ac leo at lacinia. Aenean mauris nulla, ornare quis urna quis, pulvinar porttitor libero. Mauris faucibus, enim vel rhoncus fringilla, enim eros varius erat, eu volutpat nulla massa vel arcu. Integer facilisis, libero quis sagittis scelerisque, diam lacus viverra ante, eu euismod eros eros dignissim nibh. Suspendisse gravida malesuada metus, in ultrices felis auctor elementum. Aenean in mi ornare, sodales arcu vitae, iaculis purus. Ut nec lobortis nunc, cursus rutrum quam. Etiam purus elit, finibus nec posuere id, blandit sed tellus. Donec sit amet odio urna. Vivamus congue consectetur libero.
12th December 2018
For the Eurocorps, the COMMON TENNACITY 2018 exercise represents the halfway point, so to speak. The actual preparations for the NATO mission started at the beginning of the year. At the same time, the last soldiers from the European Training Mission in Central Africa returned. The return of these soldiers marked the end of almost three years of commitment to the European Union, beginning in 2015 with the assumption of command responsibility in Mali and extending to a total of three rotations in Central Africa. But now NATO is on the agenda.
JTFHQ 2024
NATO relies on the NATO Force Structure to provide NATO’s full Joint Command and Control deployable Capabilities. As such, EUROCORPS must be prepared to assume its Joint Task Force (JTF) Headquarters (HQ) roles. The range of operations for an NFS JF HQ includes, but is not limited to, the following Non-Article 5 Crisis Response Operations and related tasks: Peace Support Operations, Counter irregular activities, support to civil authorities, search and rescue, non-combat evacuation operations, sanctions and embargoes, freedom of navigation and over flight operations, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
17th November 2022
EC had the opportunity to test its planning and conduct capability for non-Article-V land-heavy joint operations. Placing the effort on counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and regional stability, STJA23 was based on a fictitious 360° strategic scenario developed by JWC.
28th - 7th December 2023
EC had the opportunity to test its planning and conduct capability for non-Article-V land-heavy joint operations. Placing the effort on counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and regional stability, STJA23 was based on a fictitious 360° strategic scenario developed by JWC.
NATO
EU
