Austria and Finland signed engagement
In a signature ceremony today, Austria and Finland signed an agreement to join the Eurocorps by detaching staff members to Strasbourg. Both nations are the first EU- but non NATO member nations that decided on an active co-operation within Eurocorps’ multinational headquarters.
On its way to become a High Readiness Force Headquarters, the Eurocorps last year has opened for participation of all European Union and NATO member nations. Already in September 2002 the NATO member nations Greece, Poland and Turkey joined the multinational headquarters with national staff, Canada will follow till August 2003.
Italy will soon contribute by a liaison officer, as the Netherlands and United Kingdom already have done earlier. Together with the five original Eurocorps member nations Belgium, Germany, France, Luxemburg and Spain, Eurocorps Headquarters will henceforward involve personnel of 14 different nations.