EU reaction force
As a measure to develop a common foreign and security policy , the European Union decided on December 10 and 11, 1999 at the government meeting in Helsinki as part of the European Headline Goal to set up an EU reaction force by 2003.
This should include 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers and within 60 days be able to use NATO resources (e.g. planning capacities, command posts) to carry out Petersberg tasks with an endurance of one year . The EU reaction force should complement the NATO Response Force .
After this goal could not be achieved as planned by 2003, the " EU Battlegroup " concept was first developed and the corresponding battle groups were set up.