Enter the EU Battlegroups

This Chaillot Paper analyses the origins and development of the EU Battlegroups. It aims to give readers an overview of the EU Battlegroups and their prospective evolution. To do so, the study addresses four main questions: (i) the process leading to the creation of the EU Battlegroups (ii) the main elements covered by the EU BG Concept; (iii) the principal challenges and prospects facing the EU Battlegroups; and (iv) how the EU Battlegroups are likely to evolve over the next few years. Taking these various aspects into account, the paper offers several policy recommendations as the EU Battlegroups move beyond Full Operational Capability. This paper should be of interest to analysts and academics following developments in European Security and Defence Policy – in particular those concerned with the progression of EU Rapid Response elements.