The
European Union (EU) has undertaken a number of overseas missions and operations, drawing on civilian and
military capabilities, in several countries across three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia), as part of its
Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The operation or mission in question will work in agreement and coordination with the
EU delegations, until 2009 known as the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).[1][2]
The decision to deploy – together with any subsequent management of – the mission or operation in question, will ultimately be taken by the EU
member states in the
Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).
1 In the event of a CSDP Civilian Mission also being in the field, the relations with the
Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) and its Civilian Operation Commander (Civ OpCdr), as well as the subordinate Head of Mission (HoM), are coordinated as shown.
2 Other Component Commanders (CCs) and
service branches which may be established.
3 The MPCC is part of the EUMS and Dir MPCC is double-hatted as DGEUMS. Unless the MPCC is used as Operation Headquarters (OHQ), either a national OHQ offered by member states or the
NATO Command Structure (NCS) would serve this purpose. In the latter instance,
Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), rather than Dir MPCC, would serve as Operation Commander (OpCdr).
4 Unless the MPCC is used as Operation Headquarters (OHQ), the MFCdr would be known as a Force Commander (FCdr), and direct a Force Headquarters (FHQ) rather than a MFHQ. Whereas the MFHQ would act both on the operational and tactical level, the FHQ would act purely on the operational level.
5 The political strategic level is not part of the C2 structure per se, but represents the political bodies, with associated support facilities, that determine the missions' general direction. The
Council determines the role of the
High Representative (HR/VP), who serves as
Vice-President of the
European Commission, attends
European Council meetings, chairs the
Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and may chair the
Political and Security Committee (PSC) in times of crisis. The HR/VP proposes and implements CSDP decisions.
In the EU terminology, civilian CSDP interventions are called 'missions', regardless of whether they have an executive mandate such as
EULEX Kosovo or a non-executive mandate (all others). Military interventions, however, can either have an executive mandate such as for example
Operation Atalanta in which case they are referred to as 'operations' and are commanded at two-star level; or non-executive mandate (e.g.
EUTM Somalia) in which case they are called 'missions' and are commanded at one-star level.
Prefixes
All CSDP missions and operations are given a prefix depending on the nature of the mission, which is either military or civilian.
Civilian missions:
Capacity building mission (EUCAP)
Military advisory mission (EUMAM)
Aviation security mission (EUAVSEC)
Rule of law mission (EULEX)
Mission in support of the security sector reform (EUSSR)
Integrated rule of law mission (EUJUST)
Mission to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform (EUSEC)
Monitoring mission (EUMM)
Advisory mission (EUAM)
Police mission (EUPOL, EUPM)
Border assistance mission (EUBAM)
Police advisory team (EUPAT)
Military operations:
Terrestrial force (EUFOR)
Naval force (EU NAVFOR)
Training mission (EUTM)/Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM)
The operations are named as if the multinational force conducting it is established specifically for the unique operation, which is often the case. The force may however also consist of permanent multinational forces such as the
European Corps.
^This operation was launched on 15 December 2003 and covered an initial period of one year.
^This mission was launched on 16 July 2004 for a duration of 12 months, and was designed to support the Georgian authorities in challenges to the criminal justice system and reform process.
^In October 2003, the
Democratic Republic of Congo requested the EU for assistance in setting up an Integrated Police Unit. EUPOL Kinshasa monitored, mentored and advised the IPU once trained and operational under a Congolese chain of command, until the national elections in DRC held in 2005. The mission finished on 30 June 2007.[6]
^The European Union mission is to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[7] Among EUSEC DR Congo's projects was the 'Modernisation de l’Administration des
Forces Armées de la RDC' (Modernisation of the Administration of the FARDC) underway in December 2008, under which, amongst other projects,
information technology training was being delivered.[8] It appears that in December 2009, Secretary-General/
High RepresentativeJavier Solana issued a formal invitation for the
United States government to offer a contribution to EUSEC RD Congo.[citation needed] EUSEC DR Congo was initially planned in 2005-06 to include eight EU advisors assigned to posts in the DRC's integrated military structure (Structure Militaire d'Integration (?)), the army general staff, the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (CONADER?), the Joint Operational Committee, and the Ministry of Defence.[9] From 2007 to 2011 EUSEC personnel grew from 8 to 46, with about 30 locally employed staff. 34 locally employed staff were listed in 2011. In 2008 with 46 staff 26 were in Kinshasa and 20 in the eastern DRC. Two personnel have died due to illness.[10]
^European Union support for the
African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), the mission of the
African Union in
Darfur. NATO likewise provided support to AMIS from 2005 to 2007[11] Both EU and NATO missions ended with the handover to
UNAMID on 31 December 2007. It included provision of airlift for 2,000 personnel, financial aid totalling more than EUR 500 million, the deployment of 15 military experts, 30 police officers, two military observers with AMIS, plus several military advisors sent to
Addis Ababa to support the EU Special Representative.[12]
^Launched on 15 December 2005 as a follow-on mission to EUPOL Proxima. The EU monitors and mentors the country's police on priority issues in the field of border police, public peace and order and accountability, the fight against corruption and organised crime. It finished its mandate in May 2006.[6]
^Established as a successor to
EUPOL Kinshasa with an initial mandate until 30 June 2008.
^A mission for security sector reform in
Guinea-Bissau with an initial mandate until 31 May 2009. Ended due to concerns over cooperation by Guinea-Bissau.[13]
^EUCAP Somalia enhances the Somalia’s maritime civilian law enforcement capacity by supporting federal and regional authorities in developing legislation, strengthening the criminal justice chain in the maritime domain and providing advice on policy to the Somali ministry of internal security and the Somali Police Force.[14][15] Since 2003,
NATO has also operated its own counter-piracy mission off of the Horn of Africa as well.[11]