THE EU: EU defence ministers, including Ireland, committed themselves yesterday to setting up 13 rapid-reaction battle groups by 2007. However , their upbeat mood was marred by a report showing gaps in the bloc's military arsenal, writes Denis Staunton in Brussels
The Minister for Defence, Mr O'Dea, said Ireland was prepared to engage in discussions about participating in battle groups, although he would prefer if they were called "peace groups".
The 25-nation EU's ambition to be a credible force in trouble zones is still hobbled by a lack of strategic transport and shortcomings in its capacity to control and sustain troops in theatre.
"We must act now and implement the solutions identified," EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana told the defence ministers.
"If we don't, all the work done so far will have been lost, and we will always have (military capability) gaps."
France, Italy, Spain and Britain offered to set up a battle group, which will be made up of around 1,500 troops and ready for deployment within five to 10 days.
Mr O'Dea said that proposals remained at a "conceptual" stage, but that yesterday's discussion had made clear that Ireland could make a useful contribution to such formations, and that an Irish contribution would be welcome.
He said questions remained over the legality of Irish soldiers training under arms abroad, and the constitutionality of foreign soldiers training under arms in Ireland.
Asked if he could foresee Irish soldiers working with UK forces in EU battle groups, he said he had no objection to working with any member-state, but his preference was for working with other non-aligned countries such as Sweden and Finland.