Publication

Since its first peacekeeping operation in 2003, the EU has initiated almost 30 CSDP missions. The EU has not yet carried out a military operation comparable to the NATO operation in Afghanistan but future trends may require such operations. The author analyzes two potential future trends: the EU assuming roles in Europe previously occupied by the US and a destabilization of the European neighborhood. He then argues that the EU needs to develop a clear defense and military policy to account for these shifts and protect European interests.