20 years of Civilian Crisis Management Missions

“The first ever Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Mission was a civilian mission”, says EU Civilian Operations Commander Stefano Tomat.



 

This year 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the European Union (EU)'s  first Civilian Crisis Management Mission: The EU Police Mission (EUPM) in Bosnia Herzegovina. Since 2003 the EU has deployed 23 civilian missions on three continents. Since 2013 EUBAM Libya is proud to play its part as an EU Civilian Mission committed to contributing to the security of Libya and its borders and to greater stability in the region.

EU Civilian Operations Commander Stefano Tomat states that the first ever Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Mission was a civilian mission. The EU‘s commitment to civilian security in partner states is a tangible manifestation of its distinctive  approach to security which seeks to address the root causes of instability through strengthened and reformed rule of law institutions, as well as targeted aid. Today it is called “integrated approach”, where the whole of the EU tool kit, diplomacy, targeted funding programmes, and CSDP action are combined to deliver optimum effect on the ground.

The EU's CSDP Missions and Operations are deployed on three continents and contribute to EU security by supporting national authorities in EU’s neighbourhood as well as in regions close to EU's neighbourhood and further afield. Under the EU flag, Member States deploy border management, coast guards, justice monitors, military, police or prison advisers and experts to contribute to stability in the Mediterranean, the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Caucasus and the Middle East.

The demands placed on the EU’s crisis management responses continue to grow in line with the deteriorating global security situation. Against the background of the political discussions on the Strategic Compass, the Civilian Conduct and Planning Capacity (CPCC), the Military Planning and Conduct Capacity (MPCC) as well as the EU Military Staff (EUMS) have been working to equip both civilian and military CSDP with the necessary tools to be more capable, more flexible and more adaptable. The objective is to ensure that EU missions and operations are sufficiently robust to meet future needs. EUBAM Libya will be one of them.