European Maritime Force

European Maritime Force
Active1995–present
Country France
 Italy
 Portugal
 Spain
BranchNavy
TypeRapid reaction force
Motto(s)At Sea for Peace
Commanders
Current
commander
Vice-Amiral d’Escadre Jean-Philippe Rolland
Insignia
Flag

The European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR or EMF) is a non-standing,[1] military force with the current participation of France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.[2] The force may carry out naval, air and amphibious operations, with an activation time of 5 days after an order is received.[3]

The force was formed in 1995 to fulfill missions defined in the Petersberg Declaration, such as sea control, humanitarian missions, peacekeeping operations, crisis response operations, and peace enforcement.

The EMF 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. The EMF 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). The force can also be deployed for other international organizations, such as NATO, the United Nations, or the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

  1. ^ EUROMARFOR – At Sea for Peace pamphlet[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  2. ^ Biscop, Sven (2003). Euro-Mediterranean security: a search for partnership. Ashgate Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-7546-3487-4.
  3. ^ EUROMARFOR Retrospective – Portuguese Command[permanent dead link], page 12. Retrieved 11 March 2012.