EU military capabilities still depend on UK, French co-operation

Any moves to enhance European military capacity requires co-operation between France and the UK, according to a report published on Wednesday, despite the ambitions of some leaders to develop a strategy to orchestrate autonomous EU operations.

A three-year investigation by the International Institute for Strategic Studies argues that of the European Union member states' 2 million active personnel, only some 2.7 percent are sufficiently equipped and trained to meet the demands of current and expected overseas deployment.

The report, European Military Capabilities, argues that the future will see ever greater demands put on the various European forces - not large-scale wars, but growing number of targeted actions.

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