The European Union's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), (renamed pursuant to the Lisbon Treaty), is the CFSP’s operational branch. Within the framework of the CSDP, the European Union makes decisions on the deployment of military and civilian missions in order to contribute to the implementation of the CFSP’s goals.
By the end of the ‘90s, the Western European Union (WEU) was the only framework of cooperation between European countries in the field of defense. The WEU gradually evolved into the defense branch of the European Union, but its actions were later fully absorbed by the EU. The Treaty of Maastricht and the Treaty of Amsterdam were the first steps towards developing a European defense policy, ultimately aiming at setting up a system of common defense policy. The Treaty of Amsterdam, in particular, includes an explicit reference to “the Petersberg tasks”, i.e., humanitarian and rescue operations, peacekeeping operations and the use of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking operations.
A decisive push was given to the development of a European security and defense policy in 1998 at the Saint Malo Summit of 4/12/98, which saw the agreement between the UK and France on the need for Europe to have the capacity for autonomous action, backed up by credible military forces.
The threats and challenges that the EU is facing, as well as its long-term ESDP goals were set out in the European Security Strategy (ESS), which was drawn up in 2003 during the Greek EU Presidency and has since become a reference framework with regard to the ESDP.
The Treaty of Lisbon introduced innovative provisions expanding and strengthening the capacity of member states to cooperate in the field of defense. Within this framework, the Treaty provides for the possibility of setting up a permanent structured cooperation; i.e., a form of reinforced cooperation between the member states of the EU that fulfill certain conditions in the field of military capabilities and operations. Furthermore, it provides for the deployment of joint missions by a group of member states, broadens the scope of crisis-management missions and consolidates the role of the European Defense Agency.
Last modified: August 2010