The European Union (EU) has undertaken a number of overseas missions and operations, drawing on civilian and military capabilities, in several countries across three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia), as part of its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The operation or mission in question will work in agreement and coordination with the EU delegations, until 2009 known as the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

Classification

In the EU terminology, civilian CSDP interventions are called 'missions', regardless of whether they have an executive mandate such as EULEX Kosovo or a non-executive mandate (all others). Civilian missions include uniformed personnel such as Police and Gendarmerie, but not military personnel.

Military interventions, however, can either have an executive mandate such as for example Operation Atalanta in which case they are referred to as 'operations' and are commanded at two-star level; or non-executive mandate (e.g. EUTM Somalia) in which case they are called 'missions' and are commanded at one-star level.

Deployment procedure

The decision to deploy – together with any subsequent management of – the mission or operation in question, will ultimately be taken by the EU member states in the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).

Military operations may be launched after four planning phases, through which the Operation Commander (Op. Cdr.), Military Staff (EUMS), Military Committee (EUMC), Political and Security Committee (PSC) and Council have different roles.

Command and control structure

List of ongoing missions

List of past missions

See also

Related topics of the Common Security and Defence Policy:

• Operations of the European Border and Coast Guard

• Defence forces of the European Union

• History of the Common Security and Defence Policy

Operations and exercises of the precursors of the Common Security and Defence Policy

• Missions of the Western European Union

• Exercises of the Western Union

Operations and exercises of the multinational forces made available to the CSDP in accordance with article 42.3 of the Treaty on European Union:

• List of operations of the European Maritime Force

• List of operations of the European Rapid Operational Force

• List of missions of the European Gendarmerie Force

• List of exercises of the European Maritime Force

• List of operations of the European Corps

Missions and exercises of other organisations:

• List of missions of the United Nations

• List of operations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

• List of exercises of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

• List of non-UN peacekeeping missions

Notes

References

External links

• List of CSDP missions

• , London School of Economics

• PhD Thesis on Civilian CSDP – EU Civilian crisis management (University of Geneva, 2008, 441 p. in French)

• Benjamin Pohl (2013) The logic underpinning EU crisis management operations, European Security, 22(3): 307–325, DOI:10.1080/09662839.2012.726220.

• European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management