About: ESDP

Germany in 2009

While Germany successfully managed its dual presidency of the European Union and G8 in 2007, a year later the country stands accused of making weak and contradictory commitments on many issues, particularly foreign and social policies, write Claire Demesmay and Hans Stark in a March paper for the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).

Why China sees the EU as a counterweight to America

"China sees the European Union as a possible balance to the United States," argues Dingli Shen, deputy director and professor from the Centre of American Studies in Fudan University, in the autumn edition of Europe's World.

EU-Russia relations expected to deteriorate if McCain wins

Europe might find it harder to maintain good relations with Russia if Republican nominee John McCain wins the US presidential election, according to scholars surveyed by EURACTIV. Despite McCain's much larger experience of European affairs, Obama is widely considered to be more supportive of EU policies and better suited to improving the overall mood of transatlantic security relations.

Kosovo’s fragile transition

"Kosovo is proving to be a difficult test for EU security and defence policy," argues a September report from the International Crisis Group (ICG), which urges the bloc to show more determination to deliver on international commitments and avoid compromising ongoing negotiations with Russia over the deployment of a new EU defence mission to Georgia.

France unveils new security strategy with EU focus

French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday (17 June) presented a major overhaul of his country's defence doctrine, revealing a shift away from French "exceptionalism" in favour of a stronger European defence outlook.

France seeks to revitalise European defence

Giving a boost to the European Defence and Security Policy (ESDP) features high on the agenda of the French Presidency, with the chances of substantial progress high due to France's role as a leading European military power. 

Turkey’s role in transatlantic relations

Turkey's relations with the EU have become a pivotal issue in the evolving EU-NATO relationship but security concerns still need to be ironed out, says Sinan Ülgen in an April discussion paper for the Istanbul-based Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM).

France, NATO and European defence

France and the UK are close to reaching an agreement that would "dramatically improve relations between the EU and NATO," according to a March policy brief by Tomas Valasek of the Centre for European Reform (CER).

EU resumes deployment of Chad peace mission

The deployment of an EU peacekeeping mission to the eastern Chadian region of Darfur was resumed on Tuesday (12 February) after being suspended due to fierce fighting in the capital N'Djamena.

EU Treaty’s impact on defence policy remains unclear

The Lisbon Treaty will strengthen the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) but the scope of the changes will very much depend on the composition of the new troika to be appointed in 2009, according to MEPs and experts participating in a European Parliament workshop.

Preparing for the multipolar world: European foreign and security policy in 2020

With America's relative power likely to decline in the near future, the EU has to improve its institutions and capabilities if it is to emerge as a strong pillar of the likely new multipolar system, argues a Centre for European Reform (CER) analysis.

2000-strong EU force to protect Darfur refugees

EU defence ministers decided at their meeting on 27 September to send an EU force into Chad and the Central African Republic to help protect civilians from violence in neighbouring Darfur.

Analysis: Tensions in EU External Relations Competences

In a policy-oriented analysis, Dr Simon Duke (EIPA, Maastricht) looks at conflicts of competences and “grey areas” between the Community and the more ‘intergovernmental pillars’ on which the Union establishes its external relations - and how to remedy them.

‘Soft power’: sufficient for the EU to raise its international status?

A conference organised by Friends of Europe focused on the EU's influence on the international scene. The EU’s potential need of military capabilities to overcome new security challenges also emerged in the debate.

Analysis: A portrait of the Union in a puzzling state of mind

This issue of "EU-25 Watch" addresses key issues and challenges to European integration.  The internet study was published by Barbara Lippert and Timo Goosmann of the Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP)  in Berlin within the framework of EU-CONSENT a "Network of Excellence". It  sheds light on key issues like the "Lisbon process" or the "role of the EU in the World".  The analysis is based on reports by institutes from all 25 EU members states as well as from the four acceeding/ candidate countries Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey.

European ‘battle groups’:A New Stimulus for European Security

On 22 November 2004 the defence ministers of the European Union in Brussels decided in favor of the formation of so-called 'battle groups'. These mobile combat units, which could be ready for action within a few days and would be available for use in crisis situation. The goal of this initiative is to give the EU a military capacity to act in distant regions of conflict as well as to bolster the project of the “European Security and Defence Policy” (ESVP) militarily. This analysis from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation looks at how this decision should be assessed? Which problems will emerge for EU members? And - above all - can the concept be implemented within the planned timeframe?

EU defence equipment policy [Archived]

The EU's defence equipment policy aims to promote the implementation of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), the improvement of the Union's abilities to fulfill the Petersberg Tasks and the strengthening of European defence companies' industrial situation. The 2006 Code of conduct is paving the way for a partial ending of the defence industry's general exemption from EU's public procurement rules.   

EU Security and Defence Policy [Archived]

The project of developing an independent European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) was launched by the Cologne European Council on 3-4 June 1999 as a distinctive part of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The aim of ESDP is to complete and thus strengthen the EU's external ability to act through the development of civilian and military capabilities for international conflict prevention and crisis management. The central vision behind it is outlined in the security strategy document  'A secure Europe in a better world'  by Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council. 

Solana to answer that ‘call from Kissinger’

In a bid to ensure continuity in the conduct of EU external affairs, Javier Solana has been named as the EU's first foreign minister.

European Defence Agency gets word of warning

The EU's approval of the European Defence Agency comes as the defence industry warns against it becoming a mere "fig leaf".

European Defence Agency to boost synergy of EU armaments industry

The EU Foreign Affairs Council has agreed to launch the European Defence Agency later this year with an annual budget of 25 million euro.

EU leaders approve ‘big three’ deal on defence

The EU's leaders have approved a plan presented by Britain, France and Germany on EU defence policy. The plan is regarded as acceptable to the US and NATO.

The world is the stage – A global security strategy for the European Union

This paper aims to contribute to the fine-tuning and implementation of the EU's security strategy.

Neutral EU Member States open to new common defence proposal

The four neutral EU Member States are reportedly drawing closer to accepting the new Italian-sponsored mutual defence policy proposal.