CESI calls for adequate support of personnel of armed forces in EU civilian CSDP missions

The EU has been playing a significant role in civilian crisis management around the world through tasks in areas such as policing, support of the rule of law and civilian administration as well as security sector reforms, and monitoring and disarmament exercises. Since the 2018 adoption of the EU’s Civilian Compact, the EU has increasingly advanced efforts in this field. However, evidence shows that the efforts are unbalanced: 10 member states provide 78% of the seconded personnel and the means available for the EU missions abroad. Today’s report of the European Parliament on the implementation of civilian CSDP therefore included a call for Member States to invest wisely in ensuring the means needed for a genuine operational framework action in EU civilian crisis management.

The European Parliament rapporteur of the file, MEP Alviina Alametsä (The Greens, FI), declared that Member States must step up their strategic ambition and political will to make sure that there will be a new civilian CSDP Compact which goes “beyond business as usual.” This should be seen as a credible commitment to a civilian CSDP, in order to equip missions with sufficient and well-trained personnel, infrastructure and additional funding. As the security environment changes, so do the requirements for missions, and the EU must be willing to invest in its non-military support to fragile countries, she stressed.

Thomas Sohst, President of CESI’s Expert Commission ‘Defence’, stated: “I am pleased that the European Parliament calls to strengthen the EU’s civilian crisis management capabilities to promote peace, stability, and human rights around the world. However, this process should start from within, by ensuring fair social frameworks for the citizens in uniform that carry out crisis management in operations on the ground. Today’s report of the European Parliament is an important signal towards the Council, which is supposed to adopt a new civilian CSDP Compact in May. This will hopefully strengthen the EU’s strategic security vision while remaining inclusive, fair, gender-balanced and supportive of the personnel of the military and armed forces.’

CESI, through its biannual European Defence Round Table, gives civil society and trade unions the opportunity to shape EU’s political agenda by engaging with policy-makers and by promoting greater public participation and involvement in European defence and security issues.