These included Operation Atalanta - combating piracy off the coast of Somalia, and the peacekeeping work in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.

BBC: Security and Defence Committee

Operation Atalanta has some two dozen ships from EU nations - including Britain, France, Germany and Italy - patrolling an area of about two million square miles off the Horn of Africa.

BBC: Swiss vote against piracy force

In 2009, the EU launched Operation Atalanta, with over 20 ships from EU nations - including Britain, France, Germany and Italy - patrolling an area of about two million square miles off the Horn of Africa.

BBC: MEPs urge release of Italian soldiers