European Union's Rapid Reaction Force and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Response Force

This paper contrasts the European Union's Rapid Reaction Force (ERRF) and the NATO Response Force (NRF). The comparison is set against the backdrop of the recent history of the EU and NATO. The discussion includes a description and evaluation of the ERRF, the NRF and NATO command and force structure proposals, followed by a comparison of the two forces. The conclusion is that the ERRF and NRF are not redundant, but complementary in their focus, functions and likely capability. These forces demonstrate ongoing tensions within and between the countries of Europe and the United States about security. Through an evaluation of the orientation of NATO and the EU as well as the capabilities of these rapid response forces, an emerging complementary structure is demonstrated. Also demonstrated are competing visions for European security and the fact that contemporary developments represent a decisive moment in which the early twenty-first century security environment is being defined and the struggle for continued transatlantic cooperation decided.