The EU uses stabilisation actions to provide quick support where it is needed most, especially in places affected by ongoing or recent conflicts. These actions aim to stop the cycle of violence and help communities transition to peace.

Stabilisation happens at a crucial moment when there is a chance to create the conditions for long-term peace, recovery, and development. To be effective, these actions need to be fast, flexible, and backed by strong political commitment.

There are different ways stabilisation actions can help, like:

•     Helping local governments get back on their feet
•     Rebuilding trust between authorities, security forces, and communities
•     Assisting displaced people to return home safely and willingly
•     Providing new job opportunities in areas affected by war
•     Supporting processes of justice during transitions

By taking these steps, the EU aims to create stability in places where it is needed most and paves the way for lasting peace and prosperity.

With support from Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the EU, the Regional Stabilization Facility for Lake Chad Basin has been facilitating the implementation of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilisation, Recovery & Resilience of the Boko Haram-affected Areas, including:

• supporting livelihoods and social cohesion in violence affected communities
• access to justice, protection of human rights and
• rebuilding trust.

Security Sector Reform (SSR) is a political process aiming at reforming a state's security institutions, with the aim to enhance human security, reinforce local ownership and enhance democratic control and accountability of these. SSR is an important component in conflict prevention and resolution, through addressing root causes of conflict and through its close links to crisis management, stabilisation, peace building and state building.

In 2016, the EU adopted an “EU-wide strategic approach framework to support SSR” applicable to all relevant EU tools and instruments, including political dialogue, civilian and military CSDP, development cooperation, technical assistance, training and the provision of equipment.

When the EU undertakes or plans actions in support of security sector, it can resort to the Security Sector Governance Facility for analytical support. This is a consortium of experts, financed by FPI and coordinated by DCAF (Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance), together with the Folke Bernadotte Academy and Expertise France. It provides rapid and flexible expertise on security sector reform and transformation. Since 2018, the SSG Facility has developed more than 30 assessments, including in Mali, Burkina Faso, DRC, Gambia, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Somalia and Haiti.

The EU is one of the most important contributors to SSR support in the world. In 2021, it provided €70.2 billion to support reform and good governance initiatives in partner countries. Most CSDP mission mandates expressly mention or relate to security sector reform and/or governance.

The EU Joint Communication on DDR was adopted in 2021, followed by dedicated Council conclusions. The EU regards DDR as a political, non-military and transformative process that relies on national and local ownership, peace and development efforts, and on resilience building. The EU‘s engagement in support of DDR is tailored to each specific context. Recently, the EU has supported DDR programmes for example in Chad, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Mozambique.

Here is what each part of DDR involves:

Disarmament: This is about safely collecting, documenting, and getting rid of weapons, ammunition, and explosives used by fighters and sometimes civilians. The goal is to reduce the illegal spread of small arms and light weapons.

Demobilisation: This is when adult fighters leave their armed groups or military units and become civilians again. It involves changes in legal status and might require help with mental health or other support services. Demobilisation can happen naturally or through laws or agreements.

Reintegration: This is the process of former fighters and their associates becoming part of civilian communities again. It is a complex process that involves security, psychological, social, health, cultural, economic, political, and legal aspects. Reintegration happens at the individual, family, and community levels as part of broader peace and development efforts. Sometimes, former fighters may even join the national security sector, but this should be done in a way that is owned by the country, promotes fairness and inclusion, and responds to the needs of the population. It also needs to consider accountability and the capacity of the security sector.

Climate change and environmental degradation are threat multipliers. Rising temperatures, increased extreme weather events and environmental pollution threaten health and livelihoods of people across the globe. Climate change affects stability and security, at local, regional as well as global level.

The term climate and security nexus refers to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, including biodiversity loss and pollution, on peace, security and defence. Since 2008, the EU has recognised this nexus and sought to ensure that its crisis management as well as its broader peace and security toolbox addresses the respective challenges. Important steps forward were taken in 2020 when the EU adopted its Climate Change and Defence Roadmap and in 2021 when it adopted Concept for an Integrated Approach on Climate and Security.

In 2023, the EU adopted the landmark Joint Communication: A New Outlook on Climate and Security Nexus: Addressing the Impact of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation on Peace Security and Defence, with a focus on:

• Strengthening climate and environment informed analysis and decision-making relevant to peace and security
• Operationalising the climate and security nexus in EU external action from policy to implementation
• Enhancing climate adaptation and mitigation measures for Member States’ civilian and military capabilities and
• Reinforcing international partnerships on the climate and security nexus, consistent with the EU’s wider multilateral climate change and environmental agenda.

Respect, protection and promotion of all human rights is at the core of the EU’s external action. The European Union’s Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Due Diligence Policy (EU HRDDP) on security sector support to third parties helps to ensure compliance of relevant CFSP/CSDP instruments with international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL) in line with the Treaty on the EU.

The EU HRDDP serves as a comprehensive risk management framework. It spells out key principles and defines concrete actions to manage potential human rights and IHL related risks that may arise in connection with the EU’s security sector support.

The EU HRDDP is an important component of the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The Policy applies to all support provided by CFSP/CSDP instruments to third parties, in particular, civilian CSDP missions, military CSDP missions and operations, and the European Peace Facility (EPF) assistance measures.

The UN implements its mandatory due diligence policy since 2011, and, in this respect, the adoption of the EU Policy allows aligning EU and UN approaches to security sector support to third parties.

Cultural heritage (CH) refers to the legacy of physical artefacts (such as buildings, monuments, and artefacts) and intangible attributes (such as traditions, languages, and practices) inherited from past generations.

Cultural heritage can be a driver of conflicts and crises. The destruction of cultural heritage emerges as a relevant aspect in most conflicts, whether as collateral damage or as a deliberate target. The destruction and looting of cultural heritage extends beyond physical harm, sometimes becoming a weapon of war with far-reaching consequences. Revenues from looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property can be used for funding criminal and terrorist activities. The destruction of cultural heritage is also a violation of human rights, weakening identities, hampering social cohesion and, exacerbating differences between individuals and groups of people.

Cultural heritage can also be a vector of peace and development. Cultural heritage is part of community identity and can play an important role in building post-conflict resilience, fostering reconciliation. Beyond its symbolic value, cultural heritage drives economic, social, and environmental sustainability, creating jobs and supporting livelihoods. The EU’s strategic approach for protecting and enhancing cultural heritage in conflicts and crises is not only about protecting historical evidence of civilisations, it is vital for peace, security, resilience and the development of communities.

The EU has developed a series of projects in support for cultural heritage all around the world. Concrete example are available here.