Security and defence

The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is an integral part of EU foreign policy. Through its military operations and civilian missions, the EU has contributed to regional and global stability. Since it's inception, the CSDP has responded to a shifting regional security context. It has played a vital role in crisis management in the EU's near and wider neighbourhood but it is also an essential part of the EU's broader approach to the protection of Europe and capacity building.

Although the Lisbon Treaty consolidated the EU's crisis management apparatus, the EU Global Strategy has set a new level of ambition for EU defence. In addition to the CSDP playing an operational role in the EU's integrated approach to crises, the EU Global Strategy has stressed the need for the EU to become a more capable and effective defence actor. Initiatives such as the European Defence Fund, the coordinated annual defence review (CARD) and more coherent financing for EU operations and capacity building efforts are all aimed at supporting the EU's strategic autonomy and the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. The EUISS continues to support the development of CSDP through outreach activities and expert publications.

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09August 2019
The EU and NATO
The essential partners
Books
Edited by
Gustav Lindstrom, Thierry Tardy
With contributions from
Daniel Fiott, Christian Kaunert, Bruno Lété, Alexander Mattelaer, Hanna Smith, Simon J. Smith, Bart M.J. Szewczyk, Ori Wertman, Katharine A.M. Wright
The EUISS and the Research Division of the NATO Defense College joined forces to examine NATO-EU cooperation from a variety of angles. Specifically, this publication analyses interaction between both organisations by focusing on the main areas of cooperation identified in the two Joint Declarations.
19July 2019
Civilian CSDP “fast forward”: workshop on the implementation of the civilian CSDP Compact
On 19 July 2019, the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the EUISS organised a workshop in Brussels on the implementation of the Civilian CSDP Compact.
18July 2019
EUISS Yearbook of European Security 2019
Books
By
Daniel Fiott
The 2019 Yearbook of European Security provides an overview of events in 2018 that were significant for European security and charts major developments in the EU’s external action and security and defence policy.
14June 2019
Towards ‘European sovereignty’ in security and defence?
The EUISS and DGRIS co-organised a seminar in Paris focusing on ‘European sovereignty’ in security and defence.
12June 2019
Artificial Intelligence: what kind of strategic enabler for EU security and defence?
The EUISS co-organised a conference in Brussels on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and EU security and defence.
03June 2019
14th High-Level Course on CSDP
From 3-4 June 2019, the EUISS supported the (ESDC, the National University of Public Service of Hungary and CEPOL with the 14th CSDP high-level course 2018-2019.
30April 2019
Protecting Europe
The EU’s response to hybrid threats
Chaillot Papers
By
Daniel Fiott, Roderick Parkes
This Chaillot Paper seeks to provide practical and operational insights on how the EU can best respond to and counter hybrid threats. It focuses on three key policy domains that are of vital significance in a hybrid context – borders, critical infrastructure and disinformation.
11April 2019
The security implications of Artificial Intelligence
On 11 April 2019, Daniel Fiott was invited by the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC) to participate in a lunch debate on Artificial intelligence (AI).
04April 2019
From sense-making to decision-making: sharing experiences on the management of transboundary crises in the EU
On 4 April 2019, the EUISS, the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU (Integrated Political Crisis Response) organised a strategic foresight workshop in Brussels.
01April 2019
The scrutiny of the European Defence Fund by the European Parliament and national parliaments
Reports
By
Daniel Fiott
Since 2016, the European Union has developed a number of new initiatives on security and defence. Commissioned by the European Parliament’s Sub-Committee on Security and Defence, this Study analyses how the European Parliament and national parliaments can effectively scrutinise the European Defence Fund.

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21November 2013
YES 2013 – Gekürzte Ausgabe – deutsch
Books
By
Antonio Missiroli
Die gekürzte Ausgabe des Yearbook of European Security (YES) auf Deutsch beinhaltet grundlegende Fakten, Grafiken, Chroniken und Karten mit Blick auf die externe Sicherheit der EU. Sie gibt einen umfassenden Überblick über die sicherheitspolitischen Aktivitäten der EU in den Jahren 2011 und 2012.
15November 2013
EU Battlegroups – ready to go?
Briefs
By
Anna Barcikowska
The EU Battlegroups (BGs) reached full operational capability on 1 January 2007. However, they have never been deployed since, raising serious doubts about the viability of the overall initiative. This brief examines how, if the EU member states really want the Battlegroups to be Europe’s flagship military rapid response tool, they may have to address the challenges that continue to plague the BGs’ credibility and effectiveness.
15November 2013
Ten years of EU military operations
Briefs
By
Katarina Engberg
On the eve of the European Council´s summit on defence, the EU´s six military operations to date can be considered to have been carried out with a certain degree of success. This brief examines how the Union still has room to grow as a European security provider in the context of an international division of labour for military crisis management.
06November 2013
CSDP between internal constraints and external challenges
Reports
By
Eva Gross, Anand Menon
This report is based on a conference on European defence jointly organised by the EUISS and King’s College London in September. It focuses on CSDP with a view to informing official debates leading up to the upcoming European Council meeting in December. In particular, the report stresses the importance of EU member states strengthening their political and financial commitment to CSDP, as well as the key role of the EU institutions in fostering cooperation and coordination.
18October 2013
Civil wars: a very short introduction
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub
As the conflict in Syria rages on, this brief provides a succinct analysis of the causes and consequences of the longest, and bloodiest, of all forms of human conflict. Why do civil wars break out? And more importantly, how can they be brought to an end?
13September 2013
Partnering in crisis management: ten years of EU-UN cooperation
Briefs
By
Thierry Tardy
A decade after the UN and the EU signed a Joint Declaration on UN-EU Cooperation in Crisis Management, this brief examines the achievements and obstacles faced by the two organisations in this field. With the December 2013 European Council on defence looming, what opportunities exist to further enhance this partnership?
13September 2013
The added value of CSDP operations
Briefs
By
Hadewych Hazelzet
For the EU to continue to attract civilian and military contributions from member states it needs to show its comparative advantage over other actors in bringing about lasting peace and security. This brief explores the question of the ‘added value’ of the CSDP compared to NATO and UN as well as to other EU instruments deployed in response to crises.
13September 2013
Setting the stage for the defence summit
Alerts
By
Anna Barcikowska
This alert examines the role of the EU as a security provider in the light of recommendations contained in a report issued by HR/VP Catherine Ashton in the run-up to the European Council in December. The report underlines the need to enhance the CSDP with credible defence capabilities.
11September 2013
Drones for Europe
Briefs
By
Andrea Gilli
The unmanned revolution in military affairs is reshaping global power and the conduct of warfare. This brief highlights the implications of drone adoption for the EU: from industrial base issues to force structure, from public support to the development of appropriate battle-networks.
26July 2013
Securing the future of European defence
Alerts
By
Anna Barcikowska
This alert explores the Communication ‘Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector’, adopted by the European Commission on 24 July, demonstrating how it makes an important contribution to the efforts to bolster the Common Security and Defence Policy.

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02October 2017
Hybrid threats and the EU - State of play and future progress
On 2 October 2017, the EUISS and the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU organised a high-level conference on hybrid threats. During three panels focusing on the current state of play, cyber resilience and strategic communications, the conference encouraged debate about the efforts made by the EU to counter hybrid threats.
30May 2017
The EUGS one year on: Challenges to European security – and EU responses
This EUISS event launched two new EUISS publications at the one-year mark of the issuance of the EU Global Strategy. With the EUISS ‘Yearbook of European Security’ as the go-to source for facts and figures relevant to the EU and its external action, and ‘After the EUGS: building resilience’ as the third in the series of the EUISS books devoted to the EU Global Strategy and its implementation.
19May 2017
Security Sector Reform in the Southern Neighbourhood
The seminar discussed a more tailored approach to Security Sector Reform (SSR) in the EU’s South, looking at challenges in the fields of criminal justice, policing, border control, and counter-terrorism.
27April 2017
Shared vision, common action, stronger Europe: Is the implementation of the EU Global Strategy meeting expectations?
The EUISS and the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU organised a high-level conference on the EU Global Strategy (EUGS). Following a panel focusing on how the EUGS has driven the EU’s and member states’ foreign policy since June 2016, the conference encouraged debate on the security and defence aspects of the EUGS and the EU’s crisis management strategy for Libya.
31March 2017
Implementing the EU Global Strategy through an integrated approach to external conflicts and crises
On 31 March 2017, the EUISS held a closed event in Brussels on the ‘Integrated Approach’. This Seminar aimed at analysing the Integrated Approach and the opportunities it creates for a more effective EU external action, in particular in conflict prevention and stabilisation.
24February 2017
ESDC Alumni Seminar 2017
On 23 and 24 February, the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and the EUISS co-hosted the ESDC Annual Alumni Conference in Brussels.
25November 2016
After the EU Global Strategy: delivering on security and defence
On 25 November, the EUISS organised an event focusing on the Security and Defence Implementation Plan (SDIP). As a follow up to the EU Global Strategy (EUGS), the Plan sets a new level of ambition for the EU in security and defence.
18October 2016
EUISS at EURONAVAL 2016
The EUISS team participated in the EURONAVAL 2016 exhibition on 18 October at the Parc des Expositions le Bourget.
06October 2016
EUISS workshop III on European defence: ambitions, visions and deliverables
On 17 October, the EUISS convened experts and policymakers to discuss the forthcoming implementation plan on security and defence.
27September 2016
A follow-up to the EU Global Strategy – Defence aspects
On 27 September 2016, the EUISS and the Slovak presidency of the Council of the EU organised a high-level conference focusing on the security and defence aspects of the EU Global Strategy.

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