Irish troops prepare to take part in latest EU Battle Group

Around 180 Irish troops will take part in the multinational force which will be around 2,000-strong and led for the next 12 months by the Germans. Take-up for the Irish positions on the battle group was initially slow, but almost 90% of them are now filled. Picture: Flickr

Preparations are advancing for Irish troops to take part in major exercises in Germany and Hungary as part of the latest EU Battle Group (EUBG).

The battle group is a rapid reaction force made up of a number of EU member states who rotate each year, and it is again Ireland’s turn to be part of it. 

The primary role of battle groups is rapid deployment for conflict prevention, humanitarian intervention and rescues along with crisis management and peacekeeping, and are set up to enable deployment up to 6,000 kilometers away within 10 days.

Around 180 Irish troops will take part in the multinational force which will be around 2,000-strong and led for the next 12 months by the Germans. Take-up for the Irish positions on the battle group was initially slow, but almost 90% of them are now filled.

The outstanding vacancies will remain voluntary, but if they are not filled before a preparedness exercise next month, it is likely the gaps will be made up by a compulsory order issuing to certain personnel.

The Defence Forces have confirmed that the Irish troops will carry out a preparedness exercise in the Glen of Imaal in the Wicklow Mountains between September 2 and 13.

While the Germans will be the lead nation for 2025, the force commander will be a French major general and the force headquarters will be based in Strasbourg, France.

“A number of Irish personnel deployed to Strasbourg earlier in the year to work as staff officers in the force headquarters. The first major international exercise that the Irish contingent of the EUBG will be taking part in will be held in Germany at the end of this year. A second large scale exercise is planned to take place in Hungary in 2025,” a spokesman for the Defence Forces said.

“The primary role of the Irish contingent in the EUBG is as the ‘Force Protection Company’ for the force headquarters. Its primary tasks will include the protection of the main operating base and the conduct of security patrols within the local area,” he added.

The Irish troops who have signed up for the battle group will have to remain on standby for all of next year in case the force is called into action.

The battle group became operational in 2007 following its creation by the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), which was ratified by the European Council.