European Union External Action
The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) enables the Union to take a leading role in peace-keeping operations, conflict prevention and in the strengthening of the international security. It is an integral part of the EU's comprehensive approach towards crisis management, drawing on civilian and military assets.
On Friday 2 September 2016, Belgium's Chief of Defence (CHOD), General Marc Compernol, paid an official visit to the Chairman of the EU Military Committee (CEUMC), General Mikhail Kostarakos.
High Representative Mogherini took part in the Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to counter Da'esh, hosted by the US Secretaries of State John Kerry and the Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter in Washington D.C. The intent of the meeting was to build momentum and accelerate the campaign to defeat Da’esh in Iraq, Syria and Libya.
High Representative Federica Mogherini and Dutch Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert co-chaired on Friday the informal meeting of Defence Ministers in Amsterdam. The event, organized by the Netherlands EU presidency, was a fruitful occasion to take stock on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), with an eye on the ongoing military missions and operations in in the Horn of Africa, the Central African Republic and the Sahel region. The situation in Libya and Afghanistan were also part of the discussion.
Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy, took part via video conference in a high level seminar on the Middle East and the Mediterranean, organised by the NATO parliamentary assembly in Florence.
The Defence Ministers of the European Union, gathered in Brussels for the Foreign Affairs council chaired by HRVP Federica Mogherini, unanimously supported the request of aid and assistance to France, after the attacks in Paris.
