For more than 20 years, the EU has conducted peacekeeping operations, conflict prevention and the strengthening of international security under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Today, military CSDP missions and operations are an integral part of the EU’s comprehensive approach towards crisis management. The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) will soon have trained 40 000 Ukrainian soldiers, and the EU is about to launch a new naval CSDP operation, ASPIDES, to escort merchant ships in the Red Sea.

To further strengthen its ability to respond to threats or crises outside the Union, the EU is committed to establishing an EU Rapid Deployment Capacity, of up to 5,000 troops with necessary strategic enablers by 2025. But there are also challenges. In the Sahel, for example, the EU’s military CSDP missions and operations are at an impasse. Coups in several partner countries have led to a crisis in their relations with the EU and its member states, raising questions about the future of EU military CSDP.

PROGRAMME

12:00-13:00

• Light lunch

13:00-13:15

13.15-13.45 

• Welcome remarks
  • Ambassador Stéphane MUND
  • Representative of Belgium to the Political and Security Committee
  • Dr Steven EVERTS
    • Director, EU Institute for Security Studies

13.15-13.45

• Keynote remarks
  • Major-General Bernard PHALEG
    • Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategy, Belgian Armed Forces
  • Lieutenant-General Michiel VAN DER LAAN
    • Director-General, European Union Military Staff

13:45-15:15

PANEL 1: EU MILITARY CSDP

• Introduction: Presentation of EUISS study
  • Dr Jan Joel ANDERSSON
    • Senior Analyst for Security and Defence, EU Institute for Security Studies
• Speakers
  • Joanneke BALFOORT
    • Director for Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service
  • Prof. Dr Sven BISCOP
    • Director of Europe in the World Programme, Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations
  • Brigadier-General Nicolas CHAMBAZ
    • Deputy Military Representative of France to the EU

15:15-15:45

• Coffee break

15:45-17.15

PANEL 2: AFRICA AND CSDP

• Introduction: Presentation of Egmont study
  • Prof. Dr Nina WILÉN
    • Director of the Africa Programme, Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations
• Speakers
  • Cosmin DOBRAN
    • Director for Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management, European External Action Service
  • Dr Rossella MARANGIO
    • Senior Analyst for Africa, EU Institute for Security Studies
  • Katherine PYE
    • Researcher, London School of Economics

17:15-17:30

• Concluding remarks
  • Prof. Dr Sven BISCOP
    • Director of the Europe in the World Programme. Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations
  • Dr Steven EVERTS
    • Director, EU Institute for Security Studies

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)