The European Union is considering sending 200 troops to train Mali’s frail army to stand up to the well-armed militia groups and terrorists that are threatening stability in North Africa and Europe.

“We are currently working on a number of plans, including how to guarantee that there is a republican, credible army” in Mali, said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on October 26.

In the wake of March’s military coup—Africa’s 117th “successful” coup—a weakening government in Mali lost control of the northern desert region the size of France to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (aqim). aqim is linked to the U.S. Consulate terrorist attacks in Libya. It is feared that Mali is becoming a safe haven for terrorists in a manner akin to Somalia and Afghanistan. According to the Wall Street Journal, a senior EU official said on Tuesday that the region in northern Mali is now “an ungoverned zone” that is “completely out of control.” The official went on to claim that the threat this chaos poses to the EU is “fairly direct.”

The European Union has considered three scenarios of intervention in Mali. One is to help with mere training of the Malian Army. The other is to provide training as well as help with restructuring the Malian Army with technical, logistical and financial support. The third scenario would involve EU troops joining Malian troops in combat. Member states, however, are unwilling to risk their troops in combat and would prefer to help train and restructure Mali’s army. Another EU official estimates that a team of 200 trainers would be deployed along with its own security force of the same size. Combat troops would be supplied by Mali’s army and the Economic Community of West African States.

Our article “Germany’s Mali Mission” last week noted that “Europe’s window of opportunity to tackle radical Islam is closing quickly.” Not wanting to see another Libya, the EU is acting swiftly to establish a presence in North Africa and confront Islamist militias. As the threat of radical Islam continues to rise, and as stability in North Africa and the Middle East continues to deteriorate, watch for more decisive European involvement in the region.