The European Union (EU) member states approved on Thursday a peacekeeping mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo to support the United Nations (UN) peacekeepers.

EU justice and interior ministers, meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday and Friday, also appointed operation and force commanders of the German-led mission.

"The EU is determined to support the electoral process and the Congolese people at this historic juncture," EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said in a statement.

"Today's decision, which follows the authorization of the EU operation by the Security Council, further confirms that this operation is well on track. Support now will help embed peace in the DRC and the region after years of conflict."

Some 400 to 450 European military personnel will be deployed in the Congolese capital Kinshasa ahead of the planned June elections. Others will be on standby either in a neighboring country or in Europe.

Costs for the joint military operation are expected to amount to € 16.7 million (US$20.7 million).

Besides Germany, countries taking part include Belgium, France, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Finland, and Austria.

The operational headquarters for the mission will be the German armed forces command center in Potsdam, near Berlin. France will provide the force's headquarters in Kinshasa.

The ministers appointed German Lieutenant General Karlheinz Viereck as EU Operation Commander and named French Major General Christian Damay EU Force Commander.

The German parliament must still approve the mission.

The tasks of the mission include assisting UN peacekeepers to stabilize a situation; to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence; to contribute to airport protection in Kinshasa and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of the EU personnel and installations.

The United Nations has 17,000 peacekeepers in the DR Congo but has warned that more soldiers are needed to prevent violence and ensure stability ahead of the June polls.

The EU also conducted a military operation in Congo's war-torn Bunia province in 2003 on the basis of a UN request.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2006)