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EU holds final Annual Review Conference of the Civilian CSDP Compact

European External Action Service (EEAS)

16.11.2022
Brussels

Today, representatives from EU Member States met in Brussels for the fourth and final Annual Review Conference on the Civilian Common Security and Defence (CSDP) Compact, four years after its adoption in 2018.

Directors from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Justice and Home Affairs took stock of the overall implementation of the current CSDP Compact and exchanged views on the way forward towards the next Compact, to be adopted in May 2023, as stipulated by the Strategic Compass.

In the face of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU is enhancing its capacity to act, its resilience, and cooperation with partners.

Over the past year, the EU has made its response to crises beyond its borders more flexible, effective and efficient. Last month, in less than two weeks, the EU deployed 40 monitoring experts to the Armenian side of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The EU swiftly adapted the mandate of the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine, introducing additional tasks in the field of border management and accountability for war crimes. In parallel, civilian CSDP missions have increased their cooperation with Frontex, Europol and Eurojust in the field of Freedom, Security and Justice, such as with the agreement between EUCAP Sahel Niger and FRONTEX this summer.

The Conference also looked back at the progress made over the four years since the Compact was adopted in 2018. Civilian CSDP missions have become a visible and tangible part of the EU´s crisis response tools. There has been progress on all 22 commitments of the Compact, addressing underlying challenges and what is needed in the future. There has been solid progress also on civilian capabilities. Member States have increased contributions to civilian CSDP missions, and, for the first time, the percentage of female international experts has increased, to almost 28%.

The EU and Member States will continue working on all actions to ensure that we can deliver on the implementation of all commitments by summer 2023 and set the basis for the next Civilian Compact.

The Annual Review Conference was hosted by the European External Action Service and the Czech Presidency.

Background

On 19 November 2018, EU Member States agreed on an ambitious Civilian CSDP Compact to make civilian Missions more capable, more effective, flexible and responsive and more joined up with other EU instruments in light of the changed security environment. The EEAS and the European Commission presented a Joint Action Plan for the implementation of the Compact in May 2019. The Joint Action Plan is complemented by the National Implementation Plans drafted by the Member States to ensure full implementation of the Compact by early summer 2023. As set out in the Strategic Compass adopted in March 2022, the current Compact will be followed by a new Civilian CSDP Compact to be adopted by mid-2023.

The European Union deploys eleven civilian Missions under the framework of the CSDP. The civilian CSDP Missions promote stability and build resilience through strengthening rule of law partner countries. The EU deploys civilian missions to address crises and to preserve peace, prevent conflict and strengthen international security. Civilian experts advise and train local partners in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, and the Middle East, namely: Ukraine, Georgia/Armenia, Kosovo, Libya, the Palestinian Territories (Ramallah and Rafah), Niger, Mali (including through regional support to the G5 Sahel), Central African Republic, Somalia and Iraq. Around 2,000 staff work in the field. The mandates of the Civilian CSDP Missions are agreed unanimously by the Member States of the EU, upon invitation of the countries hosting the missions. In this regard, the missions constitute a unique instrument that works in close cooperation with its partners, striving for the stabilisation of the host country.