The EU mission to Mali will be responsible for providing the Malian Armed Forces with military training and advice in order to improve their capacity to maintain security in Mali and restore the authority of the Malian government and the territorial integrity of the west African country.

"Alongside standard infantry training, training will also be provided in international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians and human rights," he said.

The EU training mission in Mali is provided for in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2071.

In total, approximately 200 military training personnel will be deployed as part of the EU training mission in Mali. Four infantry training teams each comprising 24 military trainers will be provided within the mission.

France will provide two of the training teams. A number of Nordic countries will provide a team and Britain and Ireland will now also provide a team.

Ireland expects to contribute six to eight members of the Defense Forces to the mission. It is expected that the mission, including the force protection element, will comprise some 500 military personnel in total.

The training mission is expected to be fully deployed by mid-March with training commencing at the beginning of April. The training mission will not be involved in operations conducted by the Malian forces.

While Ireland and British forces have worked together in different theatres and operations over many years, including on UN Blue Hat operations, EU-led operations and NATO-led Operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan, this will be the first time a joint British/Irish military contingent has been deployed on any such operation, according to Shatter.

A decision to launch the Mission has not yet been made by the EU and planning for the EUTM is continuing in Brussels. None of the personnel in the British/Irish Training Team will have a combat role.