• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Civilian CSDP Compact: EU holds Annual Review Conference on its civilian response to crises and conflicts worldwide

European External Action Service (EEAS)

16.11.2023

The representatives from the EU Member States met today in Brussels for the first Annual Review Conference under the new Civilian Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Compact. The meeting was hosted by the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Directors from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Internal/Home Affairs and Ministries of Justice elaborated on how to foster the effectiveness of civilian CSDP missions through the instruments provided by the new Compact and discussed the establishment of a civilian capability development process.

The participants reiterated the crucial need to provide missions with the right capabilities to successfully carry out their mandates. They also pointed out to the need for clear parameters to evaluate each mission's impact on the ground, also to ensure a well-informed decision-making process.

Against the backdrop of the evolving geostrategic landscape, the demand for civilian CSDP missions to reinforce the police, rule of law and civil administration in fragile and conflict settings continues to grow. This year, the EU launched two new missions in Armenia and in Moldova as well as a new EU Security and Defence Initiative in support of Gulf of Guinea countries.

Background

After the release of the first Civilian CSDP Compact in 2018, the new Compact was adopted in May 2023 to keep a high level of ambition in strengthening civilian CSDP in light of the deteriorating security environment. As one of the key deliverables of the Strategic Compass, the new Compact seeks to reinforce the effectiveness, the robustness and the flexibility of the civilian missions to adequately respond to the fast-changing security landscape. The European External Action Service (EEAS), together with Member States as well as relevant Commission services, will jointly work to ensure the effective implementation of the new Compact and its 20 commitments, set to be fully delivered by mid-2027.

The European Union currently deploys 13 civilian missions under the framework of the CSDP. They work in crises and conflict areas to preserve peace, promote stability and build resilience by strengthening the rule of law, the police and the civil administration of partner countries. Civilian experts advise and train local partners in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, and the Middle East, namely: in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Kosovo, Libya, the Palestinian Territories, Niger, Mali, Central African Republic, Somalia and Iraq. Under the EU flag, more than 2,000 staff works 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.