The European Union (EU) has two battlegroups constantly on standby, ready to be deployed in crisis areas virtually anywhere in the world. During the first half of 2011 the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG) will be one of these.

The NBG will consist of something in excess of 2,000 soldiers from five countries: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia and Ireland. Sweden has lead responsibility for the Nordic Battlegroup and the Force Commander will be Swedish Brigadier General Stefan Andersson.

This is the second time that Sweden has been responsible for one of the EU’s battlegroups, the last occasion being during the first six months of 2008. Sweden will be contributing around 1,600 soldiers to NBG 2011.

The NBG and other battlegroups form one of a number of important instruments that make up the EU’s crisis management capability and they can be deployed rapidly when they are needed. The battlegroups must be capable of participating in the EU’s crisis management operations, including the initial, and often most dangerous, entry phase. They must be capable of stand-alone operation for a limited period across the whole of the conflict spectrum ranging from humanitarian aid to armed combat. A battlegroup must be capable of being deployed and in place ready for action in the conflict area within ten days of a decision by the EU to mount the mission. Force endurance without resupply has been set at 30 days, but this must be extendable to a period of up to 120 days.