THOUSANDS of British troops were committed to a big expansion of the European Union’s military capability by Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, yesterday.

The British Army will take the lead in a series of rapid- response battle groups under European Union control early next year and will carry out peacekeeping and combat missions at only 15 days’ notice.

Mr Hoon and other EU defence ministers agreed to create 12 European battle groups, each with 1,500 troops, as part of a long-term strategy to turn the EU from a trading block into a leading military power, with a common security and defence policy independent of Nato.

The battle groups, officially described as combat forces, will be an embryonic European Army, involved not only in peacekeeping and humanitarian work but also able to go on the offensive to stabilise international emergencies before they escalate into wars. The groups are aimed primarily at Africa, where they will be expected to bring emergencies under control before handing over peacekeeping work to African Union soldiers.

Mr Hoon said: “This is vital to the future of European security and defence policy.”

The EU’s defence ministers said in a joint statement: “The European Union has entered a new stage in the process of strengthening military capabilities.”

British troops will come from the Army’s Spearhead Battalion, which is on permanent standby. They will go into action at the request of the European Council, made up of all 25 EU member states. Each country will have a veto.

Although under an EU flag, they will be under British command, based at Northwood, northwest London. Only Britain and France have the capability for such combat battle groups, but by 2007 most other EU nations should contribute.

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