European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)
The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) was first conceived at the Cologne European Council in June 1999. In December 2000 the Nice European Council agreed that new structures based in Brussels were needed to strengthen the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and develop the ESDP. At the same time it laid the foundations for the EU and NATO to begin cooperating on crisis management operations across the full range of "Petersberg tasks" (humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping and crisis management operations, including peacebuilding). Under framework arrangements concluded in March 2003 ("Berlin plus"), the EU is now able to draw on NATO assets and capabilities for this purpose.
Civilian ESDP missions can encompass such areas as police, rule of law, civil administration and security sector reform.
To date a total of 17 military and civilian crisis management operations and missions have been launched as part of this policy, some of which have already been successfully completed.
A broad spectrum of civilian and military instruments can be employed for the implementation of European peacekeeping missions. The European Security Strategy adopted in 2003 provides the conceptual framework for European Union activities in connection with the ESDP. In 2001 the WEU took over the Satellite Centre in Torrejon (Spain) and the Institute for Security Studies and established them as independent EU institutions to make the ESDP more efficient.
Other partners include international organizations such as the United Nations and the OSCE.
In 2004 the European Council adopted the Headline Goal 2010. In the same year the European Defence Agency commenced operations. In December 2004 the European Council approved the creation of an EU operations centre (from 2007), a Civilian and Military Cell (since 2005), an EU planning cell at SHAPE and NATO liaison officers based with the EU Military Staff (since 2005) for planning and coordinating joint European operations.
Consolidated Civilian Headline Goal
A trademark and peculiar strength of the ESDP is the parallel and balanced development of military and civilian capabilities. To prevent the steps taken in European civilian crisis management from lagging behind the progress made in the military field, the Consolidated Civilian Headline Goal was adopted in December 2004 within the context of the ESDP. Its main goal is to identify what civilian capabilities the EU requires and develop them by 2008. Priority areas include police and the rule of law, civil administration and disaster relief, monitoring and support for EU Special Representatives.
Headline Goal 2010
The EU is now in a position to perform humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping and crisis management operations, including peacebuilding (Petersberg tasks). In adopting the European Headline Goal 2010 in June 2004, the European Council implemented the requirements arising from a refined European Security Strategy and the future provisions of the constitutional treaty concerning the ability of the Member States' armed forces to act in the context of crisis management.
A new concept for the formation of rapid response battlegroups was also adopted. In addition, the European Defence Agency is developing a European Capability Action Plan (ECAP), thus implementing another aspect of the Headline Goal 2010. The Action Plan is designed to coordinate the formation, deployment and strategies of the respective national armed forces and tap synergy effects. The development of military capabilities will be closely coordinated with NATO.
European Defence Agency
The European Defence Agency was established in July 2004. The Western European Armaments Group was then dissolved in May 2005, once the Defence Agency had taken over its responsibilities. By establishing a separate institution the ESDP has created an important instrument to sustainably improve coordination between the Member States' armed forces. The goal is to boost the efficiency of the national armed forces in all areas (research, procurement, equipment and impact) and improve coordination between the different countries. This is now reflected in a growing number of joint projects between European Union armed forces.
Last updated 29.01.2007
