List of military and civilian missions of the European Union

The European Union (EU) has undertaken a number of overseas missions and operations, drawing on civilian and military capabilities, in several countries across three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia), as part of its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

The operation or mission in question will work in agreement and coordination with the EU delegations, until 2009 known as the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

[1][2] The decision to deploy – together with any subsequent management of – the mission or operation in question, will ultimately be taken by the EU member states in the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).

[3] The EU command and control (C2) structure is directed by political bodies composed of member states' representatives, and generally requires unanimous decisions.

Military interventions, however, can either have an executive mandate such as for example Operation Atalanta in which case they are referred to as 'operations' and are commanded at two-star level; or non-executive mandate (e.g. EUTM Somalia) in which case they are called 'missions' and are commanded at one-star level.

Since 2002, the European Union has intervened abroad thirty times in three different continents. [ citation needed ] [ clarification needed ]
Euratom since 1 January 2021
Euratom since 1 January 2021
Eurozone since 2015
Eurozone since 2015
Schengen Area from January 2023
Schengen Area from January 2023
European Economic Area
European Economic Area
An EUNAVFOR badge displayed aboard a German frigate as part of the mission titled European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Somalia , commonly referred to as Operation Atalanta .