Common Security and Defence Policy


The Common Security and Defence Policy is the European Union's course of action in the fields of defence and crisis management, and a main component of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The CSDP involves military or civilian missions being deployed to preserve peace, prevent conflict and strengthen international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. Military missions are carried out by EU forces established with secondments from the member states' armed forces. The CSDP also entails collective self-defence amongst member states as well as a Permanent Structured Cooperation in which 25 of the 27 national armed forces pursue structural integration. The CSDP structure — headed by the Union's High Representative, Josep Borrell, and sometimes referred to as the European Defence Union in relation to its prospective development as the EU's defence arm — comprises:
The EU command & control structures are much smaller than the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Command Structure, which has been established for territorial defence. It has been agreed that NATO's Allied Command Operations may be used for the conduct of the EU's missions. The MPCC, established in 2017 and to be strengthened in 2020, is the EU's first permanent military OHQ. In parallel, the newly established European Defence Fund marks the first time the EU budget is used to finance multinational defence projects.
Decisions relating to the CSDP are proposed by the HR/VP, adopted by the FAC, generally requiring unanimity, and then implemented by the HR/VP.

History

The post-war period saw several short-lived or ill-fated initiatives for European defence integration intended to protect against potential Soviet or German aggression: The Western Union and the proposed European Defence Community were respectively cannibalised by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and rejected by the French Parliament. The largely dormant Western European Union succeeded the WU's remainder in 1955.
In 1970 the European Political Cooperation brought about the European Communities' initial foreign policy coordination. Opposition to the addition of security and defence matters to the EPC led to the reactivation of the WEU in 1984 by its member states, which were also EC member states.
European defence integration gained momentum soon after the end of the Cold War, partly as a result of the EC's failure to prevent the Yugoslav Wars. In 1992, the WEU was given new tasks, and the following year the Treaty of Maastricht founded the EU and replaced the EPC with the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar. In 1996 NATO agreed to let the WEU develop a so-called European Security and Defence Identity. The 1998 St. Malo declaration signalled that the traditionally hesitant United Kingdom was prepared to provide the EU with autonomous defence structures. This facilitated the transformation of the ESDI into the European Security and Defence Policy in 1999, when it was transferred to the EU. In 2003 the EU deployed its first CSDP missions, and adopted the European Security Strategy identifying common threats and objectives. In 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon introduced the present name, CSDP, while establishing the EEAS, the mutual defence clause and enabling a subset of member states to pursue defence integration within PESCO. In 2011 the WEU, whose tasks had been transferred to the EU, was dissolved. In 2016 a new security strategy was introduced, which along with the Russian annexation of Crimea, the British withdrawal from the EU and the election of Trump as US President have given the CSDP a new impetus.

Deployments

The first deployment of European troops under the ESDP, following the 1999 declaration of intent, was in March 2003 in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Operation Concordia used NATO assets and was considered a success and replaced by a smaller police mission, EUPOL Proxima, later that year. Since then, there have been other small police, justice and monitoring missions. As well as in the FYROM, the EU has maintained its deployment of peacekeepers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of Operation Althea.
Between May and September 2003 EU troops were deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo during "Operation Artemis" under a mandate given by UN Security Council Resolution 1484 which aimed to prevent further atrocities and violence in the Ituri Conflict and put the DRC's peace process back on track. This laid out the "framework nation" system to be used in future deployments. The EU returned to the DRC during July–November 2006 with EUFOR RD Congo, which supported the UN mission there during the country's elections.
Geographically, EU missions outside the Balkans and the DRC have taken place in Georgia, Indonesia, Sudan, Palestine, and Ukraine–Moldova. There is also a judicial mission in Iraq. On 28 January 2008, the EU deployed its largest and most multi-national mission to Africa, EUFOR Tchad/RCA. The UN-mandated mission involves troops from 25 EU states deployed in areas of eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic in order to improve security in those regions. EUFOR Tchad/RCA reached full operation capability in mid-September 2008, and handed over security duties to the UN in mid-March 2009.
The EU launched its first maritime CSDP operation on 12 December 2008. The concept of the European Union Naval Force was created on the back of this operation, which is still successfully combatting piracy off the coast of Somalia almost a decade later. A second such intervention was launched in 2015 to tackle migration problems in the southern Mediterranean, working under the name Operation SOPHIA.
Most of the CSDP missions deployed so far are mandated to support Security Sector Reforms in host-states. One of the core principles of CSDP support to SSR is local ownership. The EU Council defines ownership as "the appropriation by the local authorities of the commonly agreed objectives and principles". Despite EU's strong rhetorical attachment to the local ownership principle, research shows that CSDP missions continue to be an externally driven, top-down and supply-driven endeavour, resulting often in the low degree of local participation.

Structure

The CSDP involves military or civilian missions being deployed to preserve peace, prevent conflict and strengthen international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. Military missions are carried out by EU forces established with contributions from the member states' armed forces. The CSDP also entails collective self-defence amongst member states as well as a Permanent Structured Cooperation in which 25 of the 27 national armed forces pursue structural integration. The CSDP structure, headed by the Union's High Representative, Josep Borrell, comprises:
While the EU has a command and control structure, it has no standing permanent military structure along the lines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Allied Command Operations, although it has been agreed that ACO resources may be used for the conduct of the EU's CSDP missions. The MPCC, established in 2017 and to be strengthened in 2020, does however represent the EU's first step in developing a permanent military headquarters. In parallel, the newly established European Defence Fund marks the first time the EU budget is used to finance multinational defence projects. The CSDP structure is sometimes referred to as the European Defence Union, especially in relation to its prospective development as the EU's defence arm.
Decisions relating to the CSDP are proposed by the HR/VP, adopted by the FAC, generally requiring unanimity, and then implemented by the HR/VP.

Strategy

The European Union Global Strategy is the updated doctrine of the EU to improve the effectiveness of the CSDP, including the defence and security of the members states, the protection of civilians, cooperation between the member states' armed forces, management of immigration, crises etc. Adopted on 28 June 2016, it replaces the European Security Strategy of 2003. The EUGS is complemented by a document titled "Implementation Plan on Security and Defense".

Forces

National

The CSDP is implemented using civilian and military contributions from member states' armed forces, which also are obliged to collective self-defence based on Treaty on European Union.
Five EU states host nuclear weapons: France has its own nuclear programmes, while Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands host US nuclear weapons as part of NATO's nuclear sharing policy. Combined, the EU possesses 300 warheads, and hosts between 90 and 130 US warheads. Italy hosts 70-90 B61 nuclear bombs, while Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands 10-20 each one. The EU has the third largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, after the United States and Russia.

Expenditure and personnel

The following table presents the military expenditures of the members of the European Union in euros. The combined military expenditure of the member states amounted to €223.4 billion in 2018. This represents 1.4% of European Union GDP. European military expenditure includes spending on joint projects such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and joint procurement of equipment. The European Union's combined active military forces in 2016 totaled 1,410,626 personnel.
In a speech in 2012, Swedish General Håkan Syrén criticised the spending levels of European Union countries, saying that in the future those countries' military capability will decrease, creating "critical shortfalls".
Guide to table:
Member stateExpenditure Per capita % of GDPOperations & maintenance expenditure Active military personnelLand troops prepared for deployed and sustained operationsReserve personnel
Austria2,6473010.7257424,1901,100950,000
Belgium3,9653490.9068027,7891,2933,300
Bulgaria7711091.5311830,2181,1683,000
Croatia6151491.2615414,86279618,343
Cyprus3524091.836320,000075,000
1,9441841.0147423,0366723,236
Estonia4783632.081586,17810060,000
Finland2,8795231.299197,5151,738900,000
France40,8526091.7910,201208,25117,00038,550
Germany40,4474891.24177,60829,200
Greece4,2133932.37504106,6242,432
Hungary1,1971220.9749223,8461,00020,000
Ireland9151910.311039,5008501,778
Italy20,5343391.201,583181,11618,300
Latvia4702431.751325,686753,000
Lithuania7242561.7314514,35026,000
Luxembourg2894840.523082457
Malta571220.5181,80830
Netherlands8,6865071.182,14440,1961,5005,046
Poland8,6832261.861,918106,5006075,400
Portugal2,4222351.2514232,7261,698
Romania3,6271851.9327769,5422,96150,000
Slovakia9931831.1719813,152846
Slovenia4222040.98726,3427071,000
Spain10,7392310.921,891120,8127,41015,150
Sweden4,6384600.971,97314,50075034,500
EU226,1524431.421,430,072

Naval forces

The combined component strength of the naval forces of member states is some 513 commissioned warships. Of those in service, 4 are fleet carriers. The EU also has 4 amphibious assault ships and 20 amphibious support ships in service. Of the EU's 49 submarines, 10 are nuclear-powered submarines while 39 are conventional attack submarines.
Operation Atalanta is the first ever naval operation of the European Union. It is part of a larger global action by the EU in the Horn of Africa to deal with the Somali crisis. As of January 2011 twenty-three EU nations participate in the operation.
France and Italy have blue-water navies.
Guide to table:
Member stateFleet carrierAmphibious assault shipAmphibious support shipDestroyerFrigateCorvettePatrol vesselAnti‑mine shipMissile sub.Attack sub.TotalTonnage
Austria00
Belgium225910,009
Bulgaria1431101815,160
Croatia5272,869
Cyprus550
00
Denmark5491851,235
Estonia332,000
Finland4412205,429
France132131120184676319,195
Germany37581564482,790
Greece9133341170138,565
Hungary00
Ireland8811,219
Italy2341451110857303,411
Latvia553,025
Lithuania4485,678
Luxembourg00
Malta1515400
24246422116,308
Poland52131932819,724
Portugal57722334,686
Romania37652123,090
Slovakia00
Slovenia112435
Spain1256236346148,607
Sweden61152214,256
EU4420297332169136448513 ~5131,200,000 ~1,200,000

Land forces

Combined, the member states of the European Union maintain large numbers of various land-based military vehicles and weaponry.
Guide to table:
Member stateMain battle tankArmoured fighting vehicleArtilleryAttack helicopterMilitary logistics vehicle
Austria5436473
Belgium022613327
Bulgaria3626811,03512
Croatia7528312710
Cyprus
12350118224
Denmark462295612
Estonia74
Finland1801,08072225
France4506,25634928310,746
Germany8151,774401158
Greece1,6222,1871,92029
Hungary30400128
Ireland10736
Italy1,1763,1451,44610710,921
Latvia
Lithuania8896
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands1663413521
Poland1,6753,1101,58083
Portugal220425377
Romania8571,2721,27323
Slovakia3032768
Slovenia765263
Spain4841,00781127
Sweden120978268
EU7,26813,5419,159773

Air forces

The air forces of EU member states operate a wide range of military systems and hardware. This is primarily due to the independent requirements of each member state and also the national defence industries of some member states. However such programmes like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Eurocopter Tiger have seen many European nations design, build and operate a single weapons platform. 60% of overall combat fleet was developed and manufactured by member states, 32% are US-origin, but some of these were assembled in Europe, while remaining 8% are soviet-made aircraft. As of 2014, it is estimated that the European Union had around 2,000 serviceable combat aircraft.
The EUs air-lift capabilities are evolving with the future introduction of the Airbus A400M. The A400M is a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities. Around 140 are initially expected to be operated by 5 member states.
Guide to tables:
;Fighter and ground-attack
Member stateTyphoonRafaleMirage 2000GripenF-16F/A-18F-35TornadoMiG-29OtherTotal
Austria1515
Belgium5959
Bulgaria1515
Croatia12 MiG-2112
Cyprus
1419 L-15933
Denmark6060
Estonia
Finland6262
France137152289
Germany117116233
Greece4315434 F-4231
Hungary1414
Ireland
Italy95107555 AMX, 17 Harrier II252
Latvia
Lithuania3 L-393
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands87289
Poland483136 Su-22115
Portugal3131
Romania1236 MiG-2148
Slovakia127 L-3919
Slovenia9 Pilatus PC-99
Spain458617 Harrier II148
Sweden9595
EU25713719512345114812191582451,817

;Aerial refueling and transport
Member stateA330 MRTTA310 MRTTKC-135/707C-17C-130C-160C-27JCN-235/C-295An-26A400MOtherTotal
Austria55
Belgium111 A32112
Bulgaria221 A3195
Croatia42 An-32B6
Cyprus
462 A31912
Denmark44
Estonia
Finland21 F273
France1414362763 A310
3 A340
99
Germany47111 A310
2 A319
76
Greece13821
Hungary44
Ireland21 BNT-2 CC2/B3
Italy16124 KC-767
3 KC-130J
3 A319
38
Latvia
Lithuania314
Luxembourg
Malta2 BNT-2 CC2/B
2 King Air 200
4
Netherlands42 DC-106
Poland51620
Portugal6713
Romania27211
Slovakia22
Slovenia1 Let L-410 Turbolet
2 Pilatus PC-6 Porter
1 Dassault Falcon 2000
4
Spain27215 KC-130H
2 A310
37
Sweden71 KC-130H8
EU0416083107308116741381

Multinational

Established at Union level

The Helsinki Headline Goal Catalogue is a listing of rapid reaction forces composed of 60,000 troops managed by the European Union, but under control of the countries who deliver troops for it.
Forces introduced at Union level include:
This section presents an incomplete list of forces and bodies established intergovernmentally amongst a subset of member states. These organisations will deploy forces based on the collective agreement of their member states. They are typically technically listed as being able to be deployed under the auspices of NATO, the United Nations, the European Union through Article 42.3 of TEU, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or any other international entity.
However, with the exception of the Eurocorps, very few have actually been deployed for any real military operation, and none under the CSDP at any point in its history.
Land Forces:
Aerial:
Naval:
Out of the 27 EU member states, 22 are also members of NATO. Another four NATO members are EU applicants—Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Turkey. Two others—Iceland and Norway—have opted to remain outside of the EU, however participate in the EU's single market. The memberships of the EU and NATO are distinct, and some EU member states are traditionally neutral on defence issues. Several EU member states were formerly members of the Warsaw Pact. Denmark has an opt-out from the CSDP.
The Berlin Plus agreement is the short title of a comprehensive package of agreements made between NATO and the EU on 16 December 2002. These agreements were based on conclusions of NATO's 1999 Washington summit, sometimes referred to as the CJTF mechanism, and allowed the EU to draw on some of NATO's military assets in its own peacekeeping operations.
, asserting that the utility of the combined civilian and military components of the EU policy could be considered more effective than NATO for a limited level of conflict.