In an era of strategic competition and complex security threats, the European Peace Facility (EPF) expands the EU’s ability to provide security for its citizens and its partners. It enables the EU to provide all types of equipment and infrastructure to the armed forces of EU partners, in compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Conflict prevention builds upon the premise that violent conflicts can be prevented before they break out, or at least the scope and impact of violence can be reduced. The European Union (EU) itself was created with the core objective to prevent conflict (article 21 of the Treaty on the European Union). Informed, timely and effective conflict prevention reduces the risk of human suffering, and saves both human lives and financial resources.

EU-NATO cooperation constitutes an integral pillar of the EU’s work on security and defence. The mutually beneficial strategic partnership is key for the Euro-Atlantic security. A stronger EU and a stronger NATO are mutually reinforcing.

‘National security’ and ‘natural security’ are inextricably linked. Extreme weather events, rising temperatures and sea levels, desertification, water scarcity and biodiversity loss are making large areas uninhabitable, forcing people to leave their homes, and threatening their security and health.

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) cooperate closely in crisis management around the world. In 2003, when the EU deployed its first civilian and military operations, the two organisations issued a Joint Declaration on EU-UN-Cooperation in Crisis Management. Since then, in 2022-2024, they have strengthened their strategic partnership.

Book by Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission 2023 was mainly dominated by the two wars raging in the EU's neighbourhood. Ukraine managed to liberate half of the territory occupied by Russia in 2022 and unblock the Black Sea. However, Russia continued to attack and destroy the country. Ukraine must prevail because the core principles of the United Nations Charter and EU’s very security are at stake. That is why the EU stepped up its support. On 7 October, the terrorist attack by Hamas has triggered a new war in Gaza, with serious risks of spillover in the region. The EU has called on and acted for putting an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, free the hostages and implement rapidly the two-state solution, the only way to bring a just and lasting peace to the region. Many other topics were also on EU’s agenda in 2023: the EU-China relations, the coups in the Sahel, the EU-Latin America summit, European defence, multilateralism… This book brings together blog posts, op-eds and speeches by HR/VP Josep Borrell Fontelles, addressing the most pressing issues for EU’s foreign and security policy during the year 2023. View and download the book now by clicking on the image below

The EU has been carrying out crisis management military exercises since 2002 to test the effectiveness of military command structures and procedures. The Strategic Compass calls for the EU to conduct more regular exercises, including live exercises, which entail the use of joint military forces and capabilities of EU Member States. This year’s EU exercise is MILEX 24. The focus of MILEX 24 is to increase the designated European Union Headquarters (EU HQs) ability to plan, command and control a CSDP military operation, as the second in four steps in the incremental operationalisation of the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC).

Since its establishment in 2017, the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) has become a valuable instrument for defence cooperation, contributing to the implementation of the Strategic Compass.

In a geopolitical context of increasing power competition and intensification of threats to the EU and its Member States, EU leaders have identified in the Strategic Compass space as a strategic domain.

The Strategic Compass was adopted in March 2022, one month after the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. It lists more than 80 concrete actions to translate even more the EU's ambition in security and defence into reality. Two years after its adoption, the EU and its Member States have continued to make significant progress in its implementation.

Space is critical for our societies and economy and is a key enabler for security and defence. In a geopolitical context of increasing power competition and intensification of threats to the EU and its Member States, EU leaders have identified in the Strategic Compass space as a strategic domain. As a result, the first EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence was released in 2023. While implementing this new strategy, the EU is taking action to defend its interests, deter hostile activities in space and strengthen its strategic posture and autonomy.

The Strategic Compass provides further guidance on strengthening the EU’s ability to prevent, deter and respond to cyberattacks. The EU is determined to promote and protect a global, open, stable and secure cyberspace for everyone to have a safe digital life. Increased cybersecurity is essential for the EU to become a resilient, green and digital Union.

The increased use of hybrid strategies and operations by state and non-state actors poses a threat to security and shared democratic values of the EU Member States and our partner countries. These threats include, for instance, information manipulation, cyber-attacks, lawfare, economic coercion, and the instrumentalisation of migrants.

Civilian CSDP missions are the EU’s flagship tool for civilian crisis management. Around 2,200 women and men contribute to security globally, helping to prevent and address conflict and crises. Civilian CSDP missions enhance the capacities of partners to strengthen their police, promote the rule of law and support their civil administration.

With the Strategic Compass the EU set out the ambition to be a stronger and more capable security provider in its neighborhood and beyond. The EU needs to be able to protect its citizens and to contribute to international peace and security, by being able to react quickly, robustly and effectively to conflicts and crises outside its borders.

Around 4,000 EU military and civilian staff are currently deployed in CSDP missions and operations in three continents, working for a more stable world and contributing to a safer Europe

Military Mobility is an EU initiative to ensure swift and seamless movement of military personnel, materiel and assets – including at short notice and at large scale – within and beyond the EU.

Ensuring safe and secure oceans is vital for the European and world economies.

The European Union´s Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) OPERATION ASPIDES is an EU defensive maritime security operation under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

"The European Union delivered on 31 May the first batch of equipment under the European Peace Facility to Moldova. It will make Europe and Moldova stronger and more resilient.” Josep Borrell High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice-President of the European Commission