Annan backs EU rapid reaction forces

RAPID reaction forces, currently being established by EU nations, will be crucial to the goals of the United Nations, Secretary General Kofi Annan told the Forum on Europe yesterday.

However, Mr Annan also called for EU nations to dig deeper and give more towards peacekeeping efforts.

Speaking at Dublin Castle on the development of the EU's battle groups, Mr Annan said: "The EU is in a position to provide specialised skills that our largest troop contributors may not be able to give us and to deploy more rapidly than we can."