Eurocorps
| European Corps | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1993–present |
| Country | |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Multinational military headquarters |
| Size | 1,000 troops in HQ plus 5,000 troops in the Franco-German Brigade (although the number may change in relation to specific military operations) |
| Garrison/HQ | HQ Strasbourg Multinational Command Support Brigade – Strasbourg Multiple earmarked units of framework nations |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding General | Lieutenant General Alfredo Ramirez Fernandez |
| Deputy Commanding General | Major General Eric Hautecloque-Raysz |
| Chief of Staff | Brigadier General Franz Xaver Pfrengle |
The European Corps, also abbreviated Eurocorps, is an intergovernmental military corps of approximately 1,000 soldiers stationed in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. The corps had its headquarters established in May 1992, activated in October 1993 and declared operational in 1995. The nucleus of the force is the Franco-German Brigade established in 1987.
Five countries participate in the corps as member nations. Additionally, four states are associated, and have thus pledged to contribute personnel to the staff.: Poland was accepted as a member in 2010. This was expected to become effective from 1 January 2016, but was delayed to January 2017. Poland will send around 120 soldiers to Strasbourg. On 25 February 2003, Austria and Finland signed a treaty which allowed them to send staff to the headquarters of the corps. Finland remained an associated nation of the corps until 2005, and Austria until 2011.Romania became an associated nation in April 2016. In addition, the Netherlands and United Kingdom have sent liaison officers to the headquarters of the corps.
Member nations:
Associated nations:
Former associated nations:
The European Corps is not subordinate to any other military organisation. It is deployed on the authority of the Common Committee representing the member nations, the Chief of Defense, and the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This committee considers requests for support from multinational organizations such as the UN, NATO, OSCE or EU. The Corps can also be deployed at the request of the framework nations.
The headquarters of the corps is based in Strasbourg near the Franco-German border, the seat of several European institutions. The headquarters contains the following units:
German and French were the official languages at the corps until August 2002. English is now the working language.
The Franco-German Brigade, with 5000 troops, is the only military formation permanently under the operational command of corps. The brigade is stationed in Müllheim, Donaueschingen, Immendingen, Sigmaringen, Meßstetten, Stetten am kalten Markt, Villingen-Schwenningen in Germany and Illkirch-Grafenstaden in France. Additional affiliated formations could be placed under command of the corps headquarters for specific operations, for example in support of EU or NATO rapid-response missions. The five framework countries have earmarked the following units and formations to the corps:
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