To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British military units formed the EU battle group in 2005; and which units will form the EU battle group in 2008. (151509)

The last UK commitment to form a European Union Battle Group on standby was from January-June 2005. The Joint Rapid Reaction Force covered this commitment. During this period, there was no deployment of an EU Battle Group.

The British military units which will form the EU Battle Group that the United Kingdom will have on standby in the second half of 2008 will again come from our Joint Rapid Reaction Force. A decision is likely to be taken later this year on the preferred unit to form the core of this capability.