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A Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union (CFSP)

Caption: Finnish peacekeepers on their first mission in Kosovo in 1999.

The European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) was established as one pillar of the Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on European Union, TEU), which entered into force in 1993. It has been further developed in the Amsterdam Treaty in 1999 and in the Nice Treaty in 2003.

Developing of the CFSP

The CFSP has been one of the instruments in the EU which have developed most rapidly. Events in the Western Balkans in the 1990's and counter-terrorist activities in the 21^st century, for example, have played a role in the evolution of the policy.

In December 2003, the European Council adopted the first European Security Strategy, prepared by the High Representative. The Strategy describes the operational environment and objectives of the Union's foreign and security policy. It is designed to give guidance and strengthen the Union as a global actor, which more coherently and more effectively than before makes use of the numerous facilities available to it to promote the common values and common security interests.

In accordance with the European Security Strategy (A Secure Europe in a Better World), the main threats are terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and regional conflicts and, related to them, failed states and organised crime. The Union's strategic objectives are: addressing the threats, building security and stability in the neighbouring areas, and an international order based on effective multilateralism. The promotion of these objectives can take place using political, humanitarian, development political and economic means, and equally by means of military and civilian crisis management measures.

The Treaty signed by the Heads of State or Government of the 27 Member States in Lisbon on 13 December 2007 will provide the EU with modern institutions and optimised working methods to tackle both efficiently and effectively today's challenges in today's world. The clause on the obligations of mutual assistance, or security guarantees, contained in the European Union’s Treaty of Lisbon.

Treaty of Lisbon (European Union's portal)

pdf The clause on the obligations of mutual assistance, or security guarantees, contained in the European Union’s Treaty of Lisbon (PDF 2347 kB)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs 2008