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European Gendarmerie Force
Rapid reaction force composed of various European police and gendarmerie forces From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The European Gendarmerie Force, also known by its acronym EUROGENDFOR, is a European rapid reaction force comprising elements of several European gendarmerie forces. It is currently integrated with eleven countries: seven member states France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Poland and Romania, one partner Lithuania and three observers: Türkiye, Moldova and Ukraine. EUROGENDFOR is responsible for carrying out policing duties within the scope of crisis management operations.
This flexible tool can act under military command or civil authority to guarantee public security, and maintenance of public order in crisis management operations. EUROGENDFOR is first and foremost, at the disposal of the EU, but it could also respond to requests by the UN, OSCE, NATO, and other international organisations or ad-hoc coalitions; its operational deployment requires a unanimous decision to be taken by Member States.
Its unique officer selection and training process enables it to work with the population, and it is one of 360,000 officers from eleven gendarmeries that reflect the highest standards of policing in the European Union. Up to 800 officers could be deployed within 30 days of receiving a transfer notice. Its gendarmes would operate in tactical and austere environments performing a variety of tasks such as training, mentoring, substitution of local police-security forces and protection of population amongst others. Its most noticeable qualities are versatility, adaptability and rapid deployment.
The creation of this unique institution in the field of policing seeks to contribute to the development of the European security and defence identity and the strengthening of the common European security and defence policy.
It was established by an agreement in 2004 between five member states of the European Union (EU): France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Romania joined in 2008 and Poland received full member status in 2013.[2] In 2009, Lithuania received partner status and Türkiye received observer status. Moldova obtained observer status in 2023 followed by Ukraine in 2024. The organisation's status is enshrined in the Treaty of Velsen signed on 18 October 2007.[3] The Permanent Headquarters is located in Vicenza, Italy.
It is not currently established at the EU level as part of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Therefore, It is not a project of the Permanent Structured Cooperation of the CSDP. It may however contribute in the implementation of the CSDP, when made available as a multinational force in accordance with article 42.3 of the Treaty on European Union.
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History
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The French Defence Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie proposed the creation of multinational Gendarmerie-type force, in September 2023. The original idea was to offer an operational, pre-organised, robust and rapidly deployable police force able to perform all police tasks within the scope of crisis management operations, not only to the European Union or the United Nations also other Organisations.
Alliot-Marie and the Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino presented the idea at the Meeting of European Union Defense Ministers in October 2003. The Declaration of Intent was finally signed by defence ministers of the five participating countries in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, on 17 September 2004 . On 23 January 2006, the Permanent Headquarters of the European Gendarmerie Force was officially inaugurated during a military ceremony at the General Chinotto barracks in Vicenza, Italy.
Following two successful exercises in Saint-Astier, France, in June 2005 and Valdemoro, Spain, in April 2006, EUROGENDFOR was declared fully operational on 20 July 2006. This status was formalised by the Treaty of Velsen on 18 October 2007. Since then, EUROGENDFOR's primary objective has been to enhance its operational capabilities in order to effectively respond to potential requests for involvement in crisis management.
After Romania's accession to the European Union, the Romanian Gendarmerie sought permanent observer status within the European Gendarmerie Force, as a first step towards full membership.[4] On 7 September 2008, the Romanian Gendarmerie was admitted as a full member of the European Gendarmerie Force.[5] The Lithuanian Public Security Service was granted with partner status on 15 December 2009, while the Turkish Gendarmerie became an observer on 13 May 2009.
The Polish Military Gendarmerie was originally a partner force of EUROGENDFOR. On 10 October 2006 it was reported that the country had expressed an interest in joining the organisation as a full member.[6] In 2013, the Polish Military Gendarmerie officially joined as a member state.[7][2][5] With the recent acquisition of observer status by Moldova in 2023 and Ukraine in 2024, the current number of integrated countries is eleven.
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Missions
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The European Gendarmerie Force's first involvement in the EUFOR ALTHEA operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) took place from November 2007 until October 2010. Since then, the European Gendarmerie Force has been involved in multiple missions performing different functions and duties at European Union territories and worldwide. These include Formed Police Units (FPUs) deployed on United Nations and European Union missions in Haiti MINUSTHA and Mali MINUSMA. It has also deployed Multinational Specialised Units (MSUs) and Stability Police Units (SPUs), primarily under NATO guidance as part of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan (NTM-A), the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission or Integrated Police Units (IPUs) on European Union missions such as EUFOR Althea and EULEX Kosovo.
In December 2009, EUROGENDFOR participated in NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) training operation of the Afghan National Police (ANP) in the War in Afghanistan. As of June 2010, 276 members of the European Gendarmerie Force (including 124 French gendarmes) from France, Spain,the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Portugal trained the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) officers and non-commissioned officers. The initial mission was planned to involve around 400-500 personnel.[8] They were trained at ANCOP training facilities, accompanying, advising and supporting them during their missions in P-OMLT (Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams),[9][10] where their military experience would be useful even if the mission was strictly civilian. As of May 2010, 50 officers and 250 non-commissioned officers of ANCOP were trained. The French Minister of Defense Brice Hortefeux announced that an additional 40 French gendarmes would be sent to support the mission.[11]
In early 2010, EUROGENDFOR's assets were deployed to Haiti to assist with post-relief security efforts following the earthquake.[12]
Due to the adaptability and mindset of EUROGENDFOR's experienced personnel, they are able to carry out a variety of functions. These include training, humanitarian or crisis management missions, as well as specific tasks such as community policing, border management, crime investigation, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear CBRN response.
Since its establishment, EUROGENDFOR has participated in 30 missions (2025) deploying more than 5000 agents around the world. In addition to contributing with robust units, a significant number of specialised teams have supported local police and military units in particular areas such as security, organisational structure, and war crimes investigation. Examples of these specialised team include Specialised Team in Ukraine, in 2024, EUSDI Gulf of Guinea Mission and EUBAM Rafah Specialised Team in 2025.
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Functions and added values
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On the scope of military and police structure, the organisation develops a meaningful number of functions highlighting: substitution of local police or security forces in areas where conflicts have created a serious administration breakdown as well as strengthening local police forces in area with a high level or insecurity and criminality.
Its international police officers are able to train, monitor and advise local police security forces in order to improve their professional standards, capabilities and operational effectiveness. Amongst its more notable tasks, protection of population in event of natural or man-made disasters, unsafe environments, internally displaced persons or refugees. The deployed personnel are capable of adjusting to dynamic, constantly changing and challenging environments.
Its main values include rapid planning and deployment, the ability to coordinate and dispatch military and police forces in the critical early stages of a crisis management operation, and the management of security issues within a short timeframe. Gendarmerie forces are capable of operating in hostile environments and combine police and military skills, allowing them to function in destabilised scenarios. They perform police duties from the beginning of a crisis and act under a military or civilian chain of command. Its members are deployed throughout the crisis management process, providing a wide range of police capabilities and ensuring a smooth transition from military to civilian management.
Structure of EUROGENDFOR
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Its command structure is hierarchical and consists of three levels:
Political-Strategic Level: is represented by the High Level Interdepartmental Committee (CIMIN), composed of representatives of the current Ministers of each Member State, ensuring political and military coordination, appointing the EUROGENDFOR's Commander, and providing him/her with directives and guidance for employment. The working group meets annually or as required, and its activities are supported by other branches of the organisation. As primary decision-making body, CIMIN ensures political and military coordination giving strategic decisions to EUROGENDFOR. In regard to participating in missions’ conclusions, CIMIN defines the framework of cooperation with international organisations, outlines the participation of contributing countries and evaluates the request for cooperation by third countries, international organisations and others. It also establishes the rotation criteria for the key positions at the Permanent Headquarters, monitors the implementation of the Treaty objectives, as well as approving administrative, financial, and budgetary matters.
Operational Level: The Permanent Headquarters based in Vicenza (Italy) ensures the activity of the European Gendarmerie Force at operational level. It is the most visible part of the organisation and the only permanent structure. It is staffed by 40 people (2025). The Permanent Headquarters' main tasks include creating a link between the International Organisation and assets deployed on missions. It is also responsible for operational planning and doctrinal development, and contributes to the strategic decision-making process on request. Its Chain of Command (CoC) and Operation Room are on duty 24/7.
Tactical Level: The European Gendarmerie Force is defined in its Treaty as personnel from police forces with military status. They are assigned by the parties to fulfil a mission or exercise, following the transfer of authority. A limited number of other personnel are also designated by the parties, in an advisory or supporting role.
In this vein, the EUROGENDFOR force is neither standby nor permanently assigned, as it is formed on an ad hoc basis depending on the type of mission assigned. This standardised force will be coordinated by the EUROGENDFOR commander. To address the challenges associated with rapid deployment, the Permanent Headquarters has developed a catalogue of capabilities. This catalogue provides the Permanent Headquarters with a realistic and reliable overview of the potential composition of its forces and their state of readiness, thus facilitating organisational efforts during the planning phase.
Moreover, it enables the existing force to be tailored to the assigned mandate/mission in a realistic, clear and precise manner, thereby avoiding miscalculations and incorrect operational assessments of the required capabilities. However, the EUROGENDFOR member states retain the autonomy to decide whether to participate in a mission by deploying units, specialised teams or experts.
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Scenarios of intervention
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The Declaration of Intent clearly emphasises that EUROGENDFOR should be able to manage every aspect of the various phases of the crisis response operation: during initial stage, carrying out stabilisation and ensuring order and security substituting or strengthening weak or non-existent local police forces during the initial stage. During the transition phase, it will continue to fulfil its mission as part of the military expeditionary force by facilitating coordination and cooperation with local or internal police units. During disengagement, the responsibility is to facilitate the seamless and smooth transfer of responsibilities from the military to the civilian chain of command.
Substitution, this scenario is generally characterised by a conflict in the area of operation, which has led to a significant breakdown of the central administration. Local police will need to be replaced either because they no longer exist or because they are unable or unwilling to maintain law and order.
Strengthening, this stage characterised by high level of insecurity and criminality due to the lack of proper system of rule of law. The presence of organised crime would further jeopardise the security environment. International police officers will be responsible for monitoring, mentoring, advising and training the local police officers in order to improve their professional standards.
In particular scenarios the intervention of international police officers is usually based on individual contributions or specialised teams. Consequently, the deployment of structured units is not foreseen. The organisation and structure of the EUROGENDFOR operation will be tailored to the expertise of the police.
The European Gendarmerie Force may also be deployed in scenarios involving humanitarian missions related to natural or man-made disasters, unsafe environments, inadequate infrastructure, internally displaced persons or refugees. In this case, the presence should be robust, flexible, interoperable and rapidly deployable due to the insecure environment and lack of appropriate infrastructure.
Monitoring missions consist of a scenario in which the primary activity is to observe, monitor and report to the sending organisation on the general political and security situation. The most significant aspect of their role is the collection and transmission of information.
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Relationship with EU defence policy
The European Gendarmerie Force has been widely misrepresented, particularly with regard to its general purpose and its relationship with the European Union.[13] EUROGENDFOR is not an EU body, and does not have the power to intervene in EU Member States, including its own countries.[13]
The organisation can act under military or civil command to guarantee public security and maintain public order during crisis management operations. While EUROGENDFOR is primarily at the disposal of the EU, it can also respond to requests from the UN, OSCE, NATO and other international organisations or ad hoc coalitions. However, its operational deployment requires a unanimous decision by Member States.
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Commanders
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Members
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The EUROGENDFOR Treaty signed in Velsen (the Netherlands) on 18 October 2007 by France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, is more comprehensive than the Declaration of Intent. It allows any EU member state to become a European Gendarmerie Force member state, subject to the approval of existing European Gendarmerie Force members.[3] As stated in article 1, EUROGENDFOR is exclusively made of police forces with a military status to perform all police tasks. The member forces are:[16][17]
Germany does not participate, as its constitution prohibits the use of military forces for police duties. In 2004, Peter Struck, who was Minister of Defence at the time, clarified that the legal foundation for militarised police forces differs from the expectations underlying the European Gendarmerie Force.[18]
Unlike the German Federal Police, the paramilitary Bereitschaftspolizei units of the federal states have no standing patrol order. Germany did not sign the Treaty of Velsen on the European Gendarmerie Force or any subsequent agreement.[19] Instead, police forces are tightly integrated based on the Prüm Treaty. The Prüm Treaty was originally intended to regulate access to neighbouring countrie's police databases, but it has also been used multiple times as the legal basis for exchanging riot equipment and personnel with participating countries Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium.
In 2008 the Prüm Treaty was incorporated into EU law, enabling countries to access police forces operating under European Union legislation based on the Schengen Agreement. The European Police Forces Training of 2009 (EUPFT 2009) was held in Vicenza, home of EUROGENDFOR Headquarters and the EUPFT 2010, which focused on anti-riot tactics, was held in Lehnin, Germany.[20][21]
Partners
Observers
EU candidate countries that have a police force with military status may apply for observer status. EU member states that have a police force with military status may also apply for observer status as a first step to accession. Observer status entails the right to second a liaison officer to the permanent headquarters in accordance with the rules approved by CIMIN.
EU member states and EU candidates countries that have a force with military status and some police skills may apply for partner status. CIMIN shall define the specific right and obligations of the partner.
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See also
Notes
- The corps is made available to the Common Security and Defence Policy in accordance with TEU, Article 42.3.
References
External links
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