European Gendarmerie Force
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The European Gendarmerie Force or EGF was launched by an agreement between five members of the European Union: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. Its purpose was the creation of a European intervention force, which would have military police (gendarmerie) functions and be specialized in crisis management. More countries will be allowed to join in the future.
The EGF is based in Vicenza, in northeastern Italy, and has a core of 800-900 members ready to deploy within 30 days. This includes elements from the French Gendarmerie, the Italian Carabinieri, the Portuguese National Republican Guard, the Dutch Royal Constabulary and the Spanish Civil Guard. An additional 2,300 reinforcements will be available in standby.
The French Defence Minister, Michèle Alliot-Marie, first proposed this force on September 2003. The implentation agreement was finally signed by defence ministers of the five countries on September 17, 2004 in Noordwijk, Netherlands.
On 23 January 2006, the EGF was officially inaugurated during a military ceremony in the Gen. Chinotto barracks in Vicenza.
The EGF was declared fully operational on 20 July 2006 following the High Level Interministerial meeting in Madrid, Spain, and its second successful Command Post exercise (CPX), which took place between 19-28 April 2006. The first CPX was held at the National Gendarmerie Training Center in Saint Astier, France, in June 2005.
On 10 October 2006, Poland indicated it would like to join the EGF.[1]
