List of military and civilian missions of the European Union explained

The European Union (EU) has undertaken a number of overseas missions and operations, drawing on civilian and military capabilities, in several countries across three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia), as part of its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The operation or mission in question will work in agreement and coordination with the EU delegations, until 2009 known as the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).[1] [2]

Classification

In the EU terminology, civilian CSDP interventions are called 'missions', regardless of whether they have an executive mandate such as EULEX Kosovo or a non-executive mandate (all others). Civilian missions include uniformed personnel such as Police and Gendarmerie, but not military personnel.

Military interventions, however, can either have an executive mandate such as for example Operation Atalanta in which case they are referred to as 'operations' and are commanded at two-star level; or non-executive mandate (e.g. EUTM Somalia) in which case they are called 'missions' and are commanded at one-star level.

Deployment procedure

The decision to deploy – together with any subsequent management of – the mission or operation in question, will ultimately be taken by the EU member states in the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).

Military operations may be launched after four planning phases, through which the Operation Commander (Op. Cdr.), Military Staff (EUMS), Military Committee (EUMC), Political and Security Committee (PSC) and Council have different roles.[3]

List of ongoing missions

Beginning Name Abbreviation
2 December 2004 EUFOR ALTHEA
25 November 2005 EUBAM Rafah
1 January 2006 EUPOL COPPS
1 October 2008 EUMM Georgia
5 November 2008 EU NAVFOR ATALANTA
9 December 2008 EULEX Kosovo
10 April 2010 EUTM Somalia
16 July 2012 EUCAP Somalia
data-sort-value="1 May 2013"May 2013 EUBAM Libya
data-sort-value="1 April 2014"April 2014 EUCAP Sahel Mali
data-sort-value="1 December 2014"December 2014 EUAM Ukraine
16 July 2016 EUTM RCA
22 November 2017 EUAM Iraq
data-sort-value="1 June 2019"June 2019 EU RACC SAHEL
9 December 2019 EUAM RCA
31 March 2020 EUNAVFOR MED IRINI
17 October 2022 EUMAM Ukraine
23 January 2023 EUM Armenia
data-sort-value="1 December 2023"December 2023 EU SDI GOG
24 April 2023 EUPM Moldova
19 February 2024 EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
1 September 2024 EUMAM Mozambique

List of past missions

Beginning End Name Abbreviation Alternative name Personnel OHQ
data-sort-value="1 July 1991"July 1991 31 December 2007 ECMM / EUMM N/A ? ?
data-sort-value="1 December 2002"December 2002 PAMECA N/A ? ?
1 January 2003 30 June 2012 EUPM BiH N/A 774 ?
31 March 2003 15 December 2003 EUFOR Concordia Operation Concordia 400[4] ACO
12 June 2003 1 September 2003 European Union Military Operation in the Democratic Republic of the CongoEUFOR Artemis 1800
15 December 2003 14 December 2005 EUPOL FYROM EUPOL Proxima 200 ?
16 July 2004 14 July 2005 EUJUST Georgia EUJUST Themis 27 ?
12 April 2005 30 June 2007 EUPOL Kinshasa N/A ? ?
8 June 2005 data-sort-value="1 January 2016"2016 EUSEC RD Congo N/A ? ?
1 July 2005 31 December 2013 EUJUST LEX Iraq N/A ? ?
18 July 2005 31 December 2007 AMIS EU Supporting Action N/A ? ?
15 September 2005 15 December 2006 AMM N/A ? ?
15 December 2005 14 June 2006 EUPAT N/A ? ?
12 June 2006 30 November 2006 EUFOR RD Congo N/A 2300 ?
15 June 2007 31 December 2016 EUPOL Afghanistan N/A ? ?
1 July 2007 30 September 2014 EUPOL RD Congo N/A ? ?
12 February 2008 30 September 2010 EUSSR Guinea-Bissau N/A ? ?
17 March 2008 15 March 2009 EUFOR Tchad/RCA N/A 3700 ?
data-sort-value="1 July 2012"July 2012 30 June 2024[5] EUCAP Sahel Niger N/A ?
data-sort-value="1 February 2013"February 2013 data-sort-value="1 January 2014"January 2014 EUAVSEC South Sudan N/A ? ?
18 February 2013 17 May 2024 EUTM Mali N/A 500
10 February 2014 23 March 2015 EUFOR RCA N/A 600 ?
23 March 2015 16 July 2016 EUMAM RCA N/A ? ?
22 June 2015 31 March 2020 EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia ?
20 February 2023 30 June 2024 European Union Military Partnership Mission in Niger[6] [7] [8] EUMPM Niger N/A ? ?

See also

Related topics of the Common Security and Defence Policy:

Operations and exercises of the precursors of the Common Security and Defence Policy

Operations and exercises of the multinational forces made available to the CSDP in accordance with article 42.3 of the Treaty on European Union:

Missions and exercises of other organisations:

External links

Notes and References

  1. European Union External Action > EU Operations http://www.eeas.europa.eu/csdp/missions-and-operations/completed/index_en.htm
  2. Benjamin Pohl (2013) The logic underpinning EU crisis management operations, European Security, 22(3): 307-325, DOI:10.1080/09662839.2012.726220, p. 311.
  3. Web site: The EU Military Staff: A frog in boiling water?. 2017-08-10.
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 7 May 2018 . 22 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150922030534/http://www.lse.ac.uk/internationalRelations/centresandunits/EFPU/EFPUpdfs/EU-Civilian-and-Military-Missions-since-2003.pdf . dead .
  5. Web site: EUCAP Sahel Niger: mission prolongée jusqu'au 30 septembre 2024 avec un mandat adapté . 2023-01-17 . www.consilium.europa.eu . fr.
  6. Web site: Niger: EU launches its military partnership mission .
  7. Web site: EU Military Partnership Mission in Niger | EEAS .
  8. News: . EU to end military mission to Niger by June 30 . . 27 May 2024 . 23 June 2024.