Page 20 - The European Union and the War on Ukraine

(EEAS), chairing the Foreign Affairs Council in its Defence Ministers
23
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configuration and directing the European Defence Agency (EDA).
Articles 42 to 46 of the TEU describe the institutional and
administrating modalities of the CSDP. In accordance with the Treaty,
the Common Security and Defence Policy is an integral part of the
Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU. It provides the Union

with an operational capacity drawing on civilian and military assets.
The Union may use them on missions outside the Union for peace-
keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in
accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. Decisions

relating to the CSDP are adopted by the Council acting unanimously.
The CSDP has to progressively frame a common Union Defence
Policy. This will lead to a common defence when the European

Council, acting unanimously, so decides.
At the same time, the “CSDP respects the obligations of Member
States which see their common defence realised in the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation (NATO).” In addition, “those Member States whose

military capabilities fulfil higher criteria and which have made more
binding commitments to one another may establish permanent
structured cooperation within the Union framework.”
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Note: The CSDP’s structure includes: the European Commis-
sion's Defence Industry Directorate-General, the External Action
Service's (EEAS) Crisis Management and Planning Directorate (CMPD)

23 The CSDP decision-making body.
24 https://eda.europa.eu/
25 PESCO - https://pesco.europa.eu/

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