European Gendarmerie Force
The European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR) is a European rapid reaction force composed of elements of several European police and gendarmerie forces. EUROGENDFOR is tasked with performing policing tasks within the scope of crisis management operations.
| European Gendarmerie Force | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms | |
| Active | 2006–present |
| Country | |
| Allegiance | European Union |
| Type | Gendarmerie force |
| Size | ~ 800 |
| Motto(s) | "Lex paciferat" (Latin) "The law will bring peace" |
| Colours | Blue |
| Website | eurogendfor.org |
| Insignia | |
| Flag | |
It 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 status is enshrined in the Treaty of Velsen of 18 October 2007. The headquarters are located in Vicenza, Italy.
It is presently not established at the EU level (referred to as the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP); it is for instance not a project of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) of the CSDP. It may however contribute in the implementation of the CSDP, when made available as a multinational force in accordance with article 42.3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).