4 July (BNS)

The standby period of the Nordic Battle Group with the participation of Estonian troops that began on 1 January ended on 30 June.

"Military co-operation with the Nordic countries is mutually beneficial in terms of training and increases security in our region," head of the General Staff's operations department Lt. Col. Eero Rebo said. "At the same time this is a means for the European Union to support foreign policy efforts outside our region when necessary."

The Nordic Battle Group consists of Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Irish and Estonian contingents, with Sweden as the lead country and the largest contributor. The Estonian Defence Forces contributed a 51-strong unit of staff officers, a staff protection platoon of the Scouts Battalion, a support unit, a movement and transport co-ordination team (MOVCON), and a military police investigator to the completed rotation.

Estonia previously participated in the Nordic Battle Group in 2008 with a staff protection platoon, a close protection team, and staff officers.

The Nordic Battle Group is one of the eighteen battle groups of the EU. Battle groups of the EU are rapid response units of around 1 500 that must be ready for deployment to an area of crisis up to 6 000 kilometers from Brussels within 15 days. Two battle groups are on standby at any one time. A battle group must be capable of operating in the area of conflict for up to four months.