About: ESDI

The European Union on the International Scene

Prospect for Prague – The future of an enlarged NATO

Hungary: NATO’s Weakest Link?

What future for NATO?

A Word of Advice from Europe: Soft Power Works

Tackling terrorism and dealing with Rogue States

Ten years CFSP: Closing the capability – Expectations gap

Time for Mr ESDP?

European security and defence policy: taking stock

EU foreign policy: a necessity, not an optional extra

A global rule book – A key goal for EU Foreign and Security Policy

New US defence doctrine puzzles European allies

The Bush administration's new National Security Strategy is perceived as an attempt to maintain the US military hegemony by Washington's European allies.

EU troops in Macedonia no longer needed?

The Macedonian Foreign Minister, Slobodan Casule, has stated that Macedonia no longer needs the European Union peace-keeping troops.

Belgium proposes mutual security guarantees for EU members

Belgium's Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, has proposed that the EU establishes military headquarters and prepares for collective response in case of a large-scale terrorist attack.

Greece continues to oppose Turkish participation in EU defence policy

The Greek government has announced that Greece will continue blocking any proposals allowing non-member Turkey to have a say in EU defence policy.

Parliament adopts resolution on EU security and defence

The European Parliament adopted a resolution that supports the decisions to set up an EU police mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the first EU peace-keeping mission in Macedonia.

EU prepares to take over peace-keeping mission in Macedonia

The defence ministers of the 15 EU Member States discussed preparations for taking over the command of the international peace-keeping force in Macedonia later this year.

Greece ready to discuss EU-NATO cooperation on European defence

The Greek Foreign Minister, Tassos Yannitsis, stated on 12 March that Athens was ready to discuss its reservations regarding the EU Rapid Reaction Force with the Spanish Presidency.

Britain says EU not ready to send peace-keeping force to Macedonia

The British government has expressed serious concern that the EU Rapid Reaction Force is not yet able to take over a peace-keeping mission from NATO in Macedonia in June.

A fresh look at EU Common Foreign and Security Policy

Italy to command peace-keeping force in Macedonia

The Italian Defence Minister, Antonio Martino, stated that Italy was asked to take over Germany's command of the international peace-keeping force in Macedonia. EU Foreign Ministers decided at their meeting in Cáceres, Spain, on 9 February, that the Union should take over the responsibility for the Macedonian peace force from NATO.

EU takes on policing role in Bosnia

The 15 EU foreign ministers agreed on 28 January to send a 500-strong police force to Bosnia to replace the United Nations-led International Police Task Force. The decision gives a boost to the EU's new security and defence policy, which was declared operational at the Summit of Laeken in December.

EU armament industry concerned with technological gap

Leaders of European armament industries, gathering in Brussels for a conference on defence research and development, said that the EU should reduce the technological gap with the US. The conference, organised by GPC International, called for more investment in EU defence technology that currently reaches only 26 per cent of the US level.

EP calls for greater Europeanisation of defence industries

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a draft resolution calling for a greater synergy between national and multi-national defence projects in Europe.