Organisation

The European Gendarmerie Force

EUROGENDFOR is governed by the High Level Interdepartmental Committee (“CIMIN” standing for “Comité InterMInistériel de haut Niveau”) where each member state is represented.

The CIMIN Presidency is held by each of the members annually and its main function is to ensure the flow of information between CIMIN and EUROGENDFOR Commander and to liaise between CIMIN and Third States and/or International Organisations.

The EUROGENDFOR Commander implements directives received from the CIMIN through its Presidency. He is also the Commander of the Permanent Headquarters (PHQ) in Vicenza, Italy.

In case EUROGENDFOR deploys Forces in an operation, upon CIMIN decision the EUROGENDFOR Commander can act as Operation Commander and the PHQ as EUROGENDFOR Operation HQ.

The  EUROGENDFOR Permanent Headquarters

The Declaration of Intent states that “EUROGENDFOR will have a multinational, modular, and projectable headquarters. This Permanent Headquarters will be directed by the EUROGENDFOR Commander and will consist of a multinational core that could be reinforced, if needed, by agreement of the parties”.

Representing the EUROGENDFOR operational planning and conduct capacity, the Permanent Headquarters located in Vicenza (Italy) is the only EUROGENDFOR permanent structure, consisting of 39 gendarmes (2025).

The main tasks developed by the PHQ include building up the EUROGENDFOR doctrine; developing the operational planning; ensuring the link with the strategic level, the EUROGENDFOR countries and the relevant international organizations; monitoring the areas of possible intervention; planning and conducting operations; supporting and backing up EUROGENDFOR’s deployed forces; planning and executing all necessary activities for a rapid deployment of the EUROGENDFOR force; and contributing, upon request, to the strategic decision making process.

The Commander, supported by his multinational staff, implements the directives received from the CIMIN through its Presidency, and develops its daily tasks, constantly monitoring possible areas of intervention, as well as the ongoing operations through the coordination and support to the deployed forces, planning operational engagements, facilitating the deployment for any given mission, developing the doctrine, and liaising with the relevant counterparts. 

 

Updated, August 2025.