Introduction

The question of how Europe can contribute to, and assure its security has kept European policy-makers busy ever since they embarked on the journey of European integration in the 1950s.

During the Cold War, Western Europe prospered under the security umbrella provided by the United States. Europe also catered to its own security interests through a process of closer economic integration. Peace and liberty in Western Europe were advanced through economic and social progress.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the European Union (EU) had a great interest in raising the stability, security, and wealth ofthe adjoining regions. Since then, the EU has implemented a policy of projecting security through stabilization and association processes.

Against the background of bloodshed in the Balkans, and following a major shift in Britain’s European policy, EU heads of state and governments decided at the June 1999 European Council meeting in Cologne to provide the EU with a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). This policy is intended to equip the EU with effective decision-making mechanisms and to develop credible military and civilian capabilities in order to undertake the full range of conflict prevention and crisis management tasks defined in the Treaty on European Union (TEU) – the so-called Petersberg Tasks.

The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Javier Solana, has frequently referred to Europe's global strategic responsibility that derives from its size and economic power. The development of ESDP, together with the willingness of the EU to adapt to a changed security environment, signifies a fundamental shift away from the hitherto civilian nature of the EU and will no doubt transform the organisation’s role on the international stage.

Content of the Course

This course provides an introduction to European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). It discusses the most important aspects of ESDP and related questions. This includes an overview of the history of ESDP, European Union (EU) institutions concerned with implementing ESDP, EU civilian and military capabilities, the relationship between the EU and NATO, and EU operations carried out within the framework of ESDP. The last lesson provides a glimpse of the future and discusses some of the most important current and future challenges to ESDP.

You can choose to study the whole course or one learning object. Working with the given sequence of a module is the best way to understand ESDP. However, you can work your way through the module randomly, if you wish, as each learning object is independent of the others.

Learn more about the course content from the table of contents.