Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
The EU's common security and defence policy (CSDP) is an integral part of the EU's common foreign and security policy (CFSP). It includes the progressive framing of a common EU defence policy, aims at allowing the EU to enhance its military capacities and deploying missions outside the EU for peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. The CSDP shall respect the obligations of certain member states which see their common defence realised in NATO. It is covered by Articles 42-46 of the Treaty on European Union.
Decisions relating to the CSDP are taken by the Council of the European Union by unanimity. However, there are some exceptions like for instance when the Council adopts some decisions implementing an EU decision or for some decisions relating to the European Defence Agency (EDA) and permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), where decisions are taken by qualified majority voting.
The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is responsible for proposing and implementing CSDP decisions.
- Common foreign and security policy (CFSP)
- NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
- 'New look' NATO
- Permanent structured cooperation
- Petersberg tasks
- Solidarity clause
- CSDP on the European Union External Action Service's website
This site is managed by the Publications Office of the European Union
Need help?
Follow us
Legal
- Legal notice
- Cookies policy
- Accessibility
- Privacy statement
Information
Other services
- European Data
- EU tenders
- EU research results
- EU Whoiswho
- EU publications
Discover more on europa.eu
Contact the EU
- Call us 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11
- Use other telephone options
- Write to us via our contact form
- Meet us at one of the EU centres
Social media
Legal
- Languages on our websites
- Privacy policy
- Legal notice
- Cookies
EU institutions
- European Parliament
- European Council
- Council of the European Union
- European Commission
- Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
- European Central Bank (ECB)
- European Court of Auditors
- European External Action Service (EEAS)
- European Economic and Social Committee
- European Committee of Regions (CoR)
- European Investment Bank
- European Ombudsman
- European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS)
- European Data Protection Board
- European Personnel Selection Office
- Publications Office of the European Union
- Agencies
