Finland ready to participate in a joint combat detachment with Germany and the Netherlands

Government Information Unit

Press release 347/2004
3.11.2004

On Wednesday, 3 November, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland's participation in the EU's Rapid Response Force. The meeting announced that Finland is ready to participate in a joint combat detachment with Germany and the Netherlands. A decision on the establishment of a joint combat detachment with Sweden has been made earlier.

The EU Member States are expected to announce their participation in the establishment of the Rapid Response Force at the Capabilities Conference that will be held on 22 November in Brussels. The objective of Finland is, as stated above, to participate in two combat detachments.

The meeting also discussed the peace keeping operations under way in the Balkans. If necessary, the Finnish KFOR troops may used in the area of Bosnia-Herzegovina as reserve troops in the EU's Althea operation in accordance with the duties assigned for the KFOR operation. Similarly, the Finnish EUFOR troops of the Althea operation can be used in Kosovo as reserve troops in the Nato-led KFOR operation in accordance with the duties assigned for the Althea operation.

Further information: Markus Lyra, Director-General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 160 55032, Elina Kalkku, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480 and Olli-Pekka Jalonen, Head of Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8154.