European rapid reaction force - Reply by M. Alain Richard, Minister of Defence, to a written question in the Senate, Paris 11.01.2001
Comparison of the activities and training levels of British and French armed forces is difficult because of certain differences in the way they are calculated. Indeed while the French armed forces measure their activity by volume and define quantitative and qualitative standards, the British have a different approach requiring them to respect, on the one hand, an operational contract in a specific budgetary framework and, on the other, a standard of a social nature (minimum number of nights spent at home) to limit the number of people leaving the services after a first engagement. Moreover, it is impossible to differentiate between operational and training activities. Finally, British units of measurement (such as days at sea and flying hours) need to be adjusted so that they correspond to French definitions.
As regards the European rapid reaction force, at the Cologne summit of 23 and 4 June 1999, EU States pledged to give the EU the necessary capabilities to carry out all the so-called Petersberg tasks defined in the Amsterdam Treaty. During the Helsinki summit (December 1999), these States set themselves the headline goal of being able, by 2003, to deploy within sixty days and sustain for one year a 50-60,000 strong autonomous rapid reaction force with the requisite air and maritime support.
With this in view, France has decided to contribute between 15 and 20% of the capabilities of this European action force. The level of training undergone by the various participants in a multinational operation is a clear pointer when it comes to assessing their operational effectiveness and ability to perform tasks in a defined framework. A lack of high-quality training would result in marginalization of the troops involved which would prohibit the country concerned from playing a major role in the operation.
This is why the Defence Ministry has, already this year, set about boosting the resources devoted to training and exercises so that, by the end of 2002, their activity rate will be comparable to that of our partners, and particularly the British. In this context, a number of standards for activity rates have been set on an annual basis, inter alia:
- for the army, 100 days in the field including 50 with organic equipment,
- for the navy, 100 days at sea for each vessel and 180 hours flying time per fighter pilot,
- for the air force, 180 hours flying time per fighter pilot.
Since these standards have to be achieved in 2002, the next military pluriannual estimates act will endeavour to strengthen the qualitative content of the French forces’ training. With this in mind, three objectives emerge as priorities:
- development of specific expertise,
- firing training and
- joint training.
The French multinational command capability is being developed in various bodies (inter-allied staffs).
The initial results are already tangible and positive, and French expertise is recognized in Europe. However, leadership of the European rapid reaction force will necessitate the development of joint training and command capabilities.
To enable France to play her full role on the European stage, the Defence Ministry intends to include this policy in the next military pluriannual estimates act./.