The Common Security and Defence Policy: a reliable global anchor

The Common Security and Defence Policy enables the bloc to deploy civilian and military missions abroad to preserve peace, prevent conflict, and strengthen international security. 

The EU’s CSDP operates through a multifaceted approach, combining civilian and military tools to ensure long-term stability. This includes:

• Comprehensive Crisis Management: Blending civilian expertise (police, rule of law, civil administration) with military capabilities (training missions, maritime security, logistics).
• International Partnerships: Strengthening cooperation with non-EU countries on cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and maritime security.
• Resilience Building: Deploying personnel under UN mandates or host-nation invitations to support stability in regions like Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
• Actionable Initiatives: Under the Strategic Compass, the EU is modernizing defense capabilities and enhancing rapid deployment capacity to respond swiftly to evolving global threats.
• Strong Multilateral Ties: Coordinating closely with the UN and NATO to uphold the international rules-based order.

Inclusive conflict prevention

While the EU’s CSDP relies on diverse expertise, the role of women is particularly crucial in ensuring inclusive and effective peacebuilding. The Civilian CSDP Compact, adopted in 2024, reinforces this commitment by promoting gender equality and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

European Union, 2025

The missions actively work with third-country counterparts to enhance women’s participation, encouraging leadership in civilian security sectors and integrating gender perspectives into reforms, training, and mentoring.

Civilian Operations Commander Stefano Tomat emphasizes the importance of inclusion:

“In order to achieve sustainable peace and security, it is vital that everyone is included. This is why the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is a silver thread that guides our Missions’ approach to their respective mandates... WPS agenda ensures that meaningful and equal participation of women is secured in all institutions and processes of conflict prevention, peace-making, peacebuilding and post-conflict rehabilitation, including in civilian security sector reform, rule of law and civil administration.”

Even though crisis management is a field which remains male-dominated, in the EUCAP Somalia mission, which supports Somali security institutions, approximately 25% of the mission members are women. One of these women is Dania, Head of Operations in Mogadishu. She reflects on her experience:

“In our mission, I believe that diversity is our strength, and the unique perspectives each mission member brings can contribute to our collective success. Being a woman in this dynamic environment has not hindered my ability to lead and make meaningful contributions; if anything, it has fuelled my commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowering both female and male colleagues. Together, we break barriers and challenge stereotypes, proving that gender differences need not be obstacles, but rather catalysts for positive change.” 

Europe as a reliable partner

Follow the link to learn more about Europe's Offer and discover stories reflecting the core principle of EU foreign policy: lasting stability is built through reliable partnerships.

European Union, 2026