Britain and France are to create joint rapid-reaction military units as part of a strategy to beef up Europe's defense, the
Financial Timesnewspaper said this morning.
The paper said the plan would be unveiled to European Union leaders later this week.
Britain's Ministry of Defense said the report was speculative and declined to comment further.
Under the Anglo-French bid, units of 1,500 troops, operating under the United Nations if needed, could be ready within 15 days for all terrain missions that would last no more than one month, the Financial Timessaid.
London and Paris want the plan accepted by all member states by the time the Irish EU presidency ends on June 30th and troops to be available by 2007, it said.
Diplomats told the paper the troops would not compete with NATO but could use NATO resources.
The EU has cut back its plans for a rapid reaction force of 60,000 troops and NATO is reviewing its 21,000 NATO Response Force (NRF), it said.