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Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
EU Member states have committed themselves to a Common Foreign Security Policy for the European Union.
In a changing security environment, a military approach alone is not sufficient to guarantee safety and stability. That is why the EU approach to security and defence is much broader. The European way to security builds on Europe’s trade-mark mixture of soft and hard power, on the coherent use of these different instruments – the so-called ''Integrated Approach'' – and on cooperation.
Many files on the table at the very first summit between the European Union and the League of Arab States. From the conflicts in Syria – where both the EU and LAS can help "win the peace" when the war will be over, but without taking shortcuts – to the peace between Israel, Palestine and the Arab world. In between, the full implementation of the Stockholm agreement on Yemen, and national reconciliation in Libya, with points also on economic relations, security and migration
The EU and the League of Arab States (LAS) held a Ministerial meeting in Brussels to prepare the first ever EU-LAS Summit, discussing ideas for deeper cooperation on files like Syria, the Middle East Peace Process, and Libya.
Maritime security is a priority for the EU as the world's largest trading bloc and as a global security provider. India is an important partner for the EU and the recently adopted India Strategy seeks to further strengthen and expand this partnership. Against this background, a French military vessel visited the port of Mumbai and hosted a group of EU military representatives on 24 January to promote the EU's role in fighting piracy and in contributing to maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean.
With 60% of the oceans relying outside nations jurisdiction, ensuring good governance at sea and securing the maritime domain becomes a challenge for every international actor. With a revised Action Plan and a Maritime Security Strategy under the umbrella of the Global Strategy, the EU has been working closely with international partners towards a safer maritime environment and a sustainable use of its resources.
