European Gendarmerie Force
| European Gendarmerie Force | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms
|
|
| Active | 2006–present |
| Country | |
| Type | Militarized police |
| Size | ~900 (Permanent personnel) 2,300 (Available on standby) |
| Part of | European Union Military Staff |
| Motto(s) | Lex paciferat (Latin for "the law will bring peace") |
The European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR or EGF) was launched by an agreement in 2006 between five member states of the European Union (EU): France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Romania joined in 2009; Poland in 2011. Its purpose is the creation of a European intervention force with militarised police functions and specialisation in crisis management. Its status is enshrined in the Treaty of Velsen of 18 October 2007. The headquarters is located in Vicenza, Italy.
The French Defence Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie first proposed the force in September 2003. Alliot-Marie and the Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino presented the idea at the Meeting of European Union Defense Ministers in October 2003. The implementation agreement was finally signed by defence ministers of the five participating countries on 17 September 2004 in Noordwijk, Netherlands. On 23 January 2006, the EGF was officially inaugurated during a military ceremony in the Gen. Chinotto barracks in Vicenza.
The EGF was declared fully operational on 20 July 2006, following the High Level Interministerial meeting in Madrid, Spain, and its second successful Command Post exercise (CPX), which took place between 19–28 April 2006. The first CPX was held at the National Gendarmerie Training Center in Saint Astier, France in June 2005.
After Romania's accession to the European Union, the Romanian Gendarmerie sought permanent observer status with the European Gendarmerie Force, as a first step towards full membership. On March 3, 2009, the Romanian Gendarmerie became a full member of the European Gendarmerie Force.
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