Treaty Establishing Eurogendfor

The Portuguese Government congratulates itself on the signature today, the 18th of October 2007, of the Treaty establishing and governing the European Gendarmerie Force (Eurogendfor).

The signature of the Treaty is an essential step to endow the European Union with a joint police tool designed to respond to crisis scenarios. Eurogendfor should be used in non-stabilised and added-risk environments.

The initiative will be open to other European States with the suitable capabilities. Besides Turkey, we currently have the requests of Romania, Poland and Lithuania to join or establish links with EUROGENDFOR.

Portugal is deeply committed to this process. Hence, Portugal has allocated 181 military members of Guarda Nacional Republicana to the «capability catalogue».

Such military are distributed throughout an Integrated Police Unit and several special Teams (Special Operations, Criminal Investigation, Explosive Devices Deactivation and Underground Security, Police Dogs Unit, etc.). There will also be some co-operation in training and reorganisation of local police forces.

The door will then be open, from the 18th of October on, to the missions of the European Gendarmerie Force. The first of those missions should be starting very soon in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Portugal will be chairing the EUROGENDFOR High Level Inter-ministerial Committee in 2008. The objectives of the Portuguese Presidency will be presented at a High Level Inter-ministerial Committee meeting on 15 November 2007.

Lisbon, 18 October 2007

The Minister of Interior

Rui Pereira

Treaty Establishing Eurogendfor