Government: EU forces should be sent only to Africa

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The Finnish government feels that crisis situations appropriate for the European Union's rapid deployment forces currently exist only in Africa. In a report submitted to Parliament on the EU forces, the government also stated that certain conditions would have to be met before EU troops are sent there.
      Finland, Germany, and The Netherlands have formed a common battlegroup, whose six-month period of readiness begins in early January. Finland has a company of about 160 soldiers in the operation.
     
The report notes that the EU has no current plans to send forces to any specific situation or crisis management operation.
      The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to remain sensitive in the first half of next year. The situations in Sudan, its nearby areas, and the Horn of Africa have been seen to deteriorate.
      According to the government, the crises in Africa are so great that there is no point in deploying a small battlegroup of 1,500 soldiers there.
      Sending forces to Africa would be viable only "in certain special conditions in very limited missions, and as part of a larger operation".
     
The rapid action forces are to be deployed on missions of up to four months' duration at a distance of about 6,000 kilometres from Brussels. The government report points out that it is possible to send the forces to more remote destinations as well.
      Maintaining the forces in readiness will cost Finland more than EUR 7 million next year. If the troops are actually deployed, it would double the costs.
      Parliament is discussing the report on Friday.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finns taking part in exercise for tri-nation EU battle group in Germany (6.11.2006)
  Finland interested in NATO crisis management exercises (3.11.2006)
  Javier Solana in Helsinki: EU forces ready for Congo operation (1.6.2006)
  Finnish, Dutch, and German soldiers meet in EU battlegroup exercise (21.11.2006)

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