The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is a key element of the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), enabling the EU to play a leading role in conflict prevention, crisis management and international peacekeeping. It provides the EU with a flexible operational tool, drawing on both civilian and military assets, to respond to complex international challenges.

Under the CSDP, the EU has launched a wide range of missions and operations — including military training, anti-piracy operations, border assistance, and support for law enforcement and judicial reforms in post-conflict regions. These missions are often carried out in partnership with international organisations such as the United Nations and NATO. The CSDP is important because it enhances the EU’s ability to respond to global crises, promotes international stability, and reinforces its strategic autonomy on the world stage.

The CSDP forms part of the EU’s broader integrated approach to external crises. This means it works in coordination with other tools - including diplomacy, development aid, humanitarian assistance, climate action, trade policy, and human rights - to deliver a tailor-made response to each crisis. This multi-faceted strategy allows the EU to combine its soft power with military tools, helping to promote peace, stability, and European values globally.

In recent years, the EU and its Member States have significantly strengthened the CSDP by introducing new instruments, new policy areas and enhancing defence capabilities, with the goal of increasing Europe's capacity to act autonomously and protect itself and its interests. As global security challenges evolve, the CSDP remains a vital part of the EU’s ability to project stability and uphold international order.

The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is a cornerstone of the European Union’s role as a global security provider. It enables the EU to take collective action in crisis management, peacekeeping, and international security operations. Rooted in the EU’s broader foreign policy framework, the CSDP has evolved significantly since its inception, reflecting the Union’s growing ambition to act decisively in a complex and changing global environment.

Read more about the history and timeline of the Common Security and Defence Policy.