Small states in the EU's civilian and
military peace support operations
Maria StrömvikLund University
Reykjavik 2014-06-27
Let's start with a story...
Let's start with a story...
• Setting the scene: December 2002
• Build-up to the Iraq war
• EU dramatically split
• NATO was leaving Macedonia (FYROM)
• Setting the scene: December 2002
• Build-up to the Iraq war
• EU dramatically split
• NATO was leaving Macedonia (FYROM)
Operation ConcordiaOperation Concordia
• The EU:s first ever military operation, launched in March 2003
• Participants:
• The EU:s first ever military operation, launched in March 2003
• Participants:
So, are...So, are...
• ...troop contributions a way to influence peace support operations?
• Are troop contributions adding political capital for small states?
• ...troop contributions a way to influence peace support operations?
• Are troop contributions adding political capital for small states?
EUPMBosnia-
Herzegovina
EUFOR AltheaBosnia-
Herzegovina
OperationConcordiaMacedonia
OperationProxima
Macedonia
EUPOL COPPSPalestinianTerritories
EUBAM RafahGaza strip
EUPAT Macedonia
EULEXKosovo
EUJUST ThemisGeorgia
EUBAMMoldova/Ukraine
EUJUST Lex(for) Iraq
EU-support forAU’s mission in Darfur, Sudan
Operation Artémis
D. R. Congo
EUPOL RDCD. R. Congo
EU border support team
Georgia
EUSEC RDCD. R. Congo
EUFOR RDCD. R. Congo
AMM Aceh,
Indonesia
EUPOL AfghanistanEUFOR
Tchad/RCA
EU SSR Guinea-Bissau
EUMMGeorgia
AtalantaSomalia
EUTMSomalia
CSDP operations
CSDP operations
• Some "local", some "global"• From very small to "normal" size• Some civilian, some military, some
mixed• Some peace keeping, some peace
enforcement, some monitoring, some capacity building
• Some "local", some "global"• From very small to "normal" size• Some civilian, some military, some
mixed• Some peace keeping, some peace
enforcement, some monitoring, some capacity building
Consequences (global)
Consequences (global)
• Demand for EU has increased• In some cases, EU has been only
accepted third party• CSDP has inspired others (notably AU)• EU / CSDP has not generated any
”balancing behaviour”?
• Demand for EU has increased• In some cases, EU has been only
accepted third party• CSDP has inspired others (notably AU)• EU / CSDP has not generated any
”balancing behaviour”?
Consequences (EU)
Consequences (EU)
• EEAS role has increased?• CSDP operations have brought MS closer
together also politically? • EU members and Commission discuss
broader and more comprehensive foreign policy issues than before?
• Treaty revisions
• EEAS role has increased?• CSDP operations have brought MS closer
together also politically? • EU members and Commission discuss
broader and more comprehensive foreign policy issues than before?
• Treaty revisions
Small statesSmall states
• Small countries ”forced” to broaden their ”foreign policy outlook”– Increased pressure on small foreign ministries?– Increased pressure on inter-ministerial
coordination?– Increased demand for information and intelligence
gathering?
• Small countries ”forced” to broaden their ”foreign policy outlook”– Increased pressure on small foreign ministries?– Increased pressure on inter-ministerial
coordination?– Increased demand for information and intelligence
gathering?
Small states (cont.)
Small states (cont.)
• Revision and increased pressure on government agencies’ possibilities to provide civilian and military personnel (Swedish examples: armed forces, police authority, national rescue agency, Swedish development aid agency)?
• Markedly increased influence on international issues?
• Revision and increased pressure on government agencies’ possibilities to provide civilian and military personnel (Swedish examples: armed forces, police authority, national rescue agency, Swedish development aid agency)?
• Markedly increased influence on international issues?
Troops for influence?Troops for influence?
• Are small states willing to provide civilian personnel and troops, despite all the problems, only because they think it is needed in any given situation?
• Or are they more willing to do so because they believe it will also give them more influence?
• Are small states willing to provide civilian personnel and troops, despite all the problems, only because they think it is needed in any given situation?
• Or are they more willing to do so because they believe it will also give them more influence?
Back in FYROMBack in FYROM
• An operation that noone thought was needed
• Yet almost all EU member states and even more non-EU member states were willing to provide troops!
• How do we explain this if not with the troops for influence idea?
• An operation that noone thought was needed
• Yet almost all EU member states and even more non-EU member states were willing to provide troops!
• How do we explain this if not with the troops for influence idea?