25/02/2023 12:00 | Article EU civilian crisis management in focus Discussions about how to strengthen EU civilian crisis management missions – and a trip in a Combat Boat 90. These items were on the agenda when the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CivCom) visited Sweden on 22–24 February.

Article

25 February 202312:00

EU civilian crisis management in focus

Committee members onboard a Combat Boat 90.

© Josefine Stenersen

Discussions about how to strengthen EU civilian crisis management missions – and a trip in a Combat Boat 90. These items were on the agenda when the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CivCom) visited Sweden on 22–24 February.

The Committee, which comprises representatives of EU Member States and deals with the development of strategies for civilian crisis management before matters are discussed in the EU Council of Ministers, visited Sweden as part of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

At present, there are 12 EU civilian crisis management missions on the ground, ranging from Ukraine and Georgia to Somalia and Iraq, the most recent of which was launched on 20 February in Armenia. The Union also has nine ongoing military crisis management missions and operations.

“The EU’s missions and operations help increase security and stability in the host countries and, by extension, in the EU. One of the Swedish Presidency’s priorities is to continue to demonstrate leadership in civilian crisis management and to work to develop a new crisis management package,” says Eddy Fonyódi, one of Sweden’s two delegates on the Committee.

More-rapidly deployed and more-flexible operations and missions

At the meeting, the Committee discussed such matters as how future operations and missions can be deployed more rapidly in response to a crisis and how they can be even more flexible and more easily adapted to new situations. For instance, the decision to change a mission’s or an operation’s mandate may need to be taken quickly.

The Committee also discussed how EU Member States can provide more personnel for missions and operations, known as secondments.

“At present, Sweden has around 100 people seconded to EU civilian missions. We are one of the EU countries that provides the most personnel, both in absolute terms and per capita. We want to inspire other countries to provide more personnel,” says Mr Fonyódi.

Civil-military cooperation

After the conclusion of the first day of the meeting, the Committee visited one of the Swedish Coast Guard’s largest ships. The Swedish Coast Guard is one of the Swedish government agencies that has provided civilian personnel and equipment for EU civilian missions.

The Swedish Armed Forces provided transportation to the ship, and the Committee met with representatives of the Swedish Armed Forces onboard a Combat Boat 90. The Swedish Armed Forces are the Swedish government agency that provides military personnel for EU military missions and operations.

“Civil-military cooperation, both in Brussels and in the field, is vital to the success of missions and operations,” says Mr Fonyódi.

On their third and final day in Sweden, the Committee met with Crown Princess Victoria and talked about EU civilian missions and how they help the EU achieve its foreign and security policy goals.

To round off the visit, the Committee met with representatives of the six Swedish government agencies that provide civilian personnel for EU civilian crisis management missions to find out how Sweden works in this area and what the government agencies do regarding secondment. The six government agencies are the Swedish National Courts Administration, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

EU crisis management missions and operations

The EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) was first established in 1993 and sets out the EU’s relations with countries and organisations outside the Union. One of the aims of the CFSP is to ensure that the EU contributes to international peace and security.

Under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, which forms an integral part of the CFSP, the EU must be able to launch military and civilian operations and missions in the event of crises around the world.

Information about all EU missions and operations – since the first launch in 2003 to the present day – is available here: Missions and Operations | EEAS Website