ISIS Europe

ISIS Europe Publications

Through its publications, the “European Security Review” and “CSDP Notes”, ISIS Europe contributes to the debate on the future of CSDP. Regular “Parliamentary Updates” covering European Parliament meetings on security and defence improve the transparency and accountability of security organisations in Brussels.

European Security Review

ESR 67 - Mali: the complex impression of a déjà vu - June, 2013

ESR 67 - Mali: the complex impression of a déjà vu

For almost two decades Mali was suffering from bad governance, a security vacuum, political instability, extremist groups and ethnic confrontations. January 2012 landmarked the most recent uprising of the Tuaregs against the Malian authorities, which resulted in taking over the Northern part of the country. A year later, after the French intervention and the mobilisation of the international community in the country, the situation remains worrying. The organisation of elections in July 2013 indicates a positive step towards democratisation, but the majority of the problems that Mali has been facing for the past years persist. How many things have changed in the security situation in Mali? Did the international community learn from its past mistakes or is this an impression of a déjà vu?

ESR 66 - EUBAM Libya: story of a long-awaited CSDP mission - May, 2013

ESR 66 - EUBAM Libya: story of a long-awaited CSDP mission

Almost two years after the end of Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s 40 year-long grasp on power, the Council of the European Union gave the green light on 22 May 2013, for the establishment of an integrated border management assistance mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya). This new mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) aims at supporting Libyan authorities in enhancing the security of the country’s land, sea, and air borders. Why has the EU taken so much time to make use of its CSDP instruments in Libya? What are the challenges ahead of EUBAM’s success for the EU and for Libya? If the new European mission appears necessary, one can legitimately wonder whether it will be sufficient to safeguard Libyan and European interests, given the magnitude of the problems that confront this country and the neighbouring Sahel region.

ISIS Reports

EU research and innovation Policy and the future of the Commonon Foreign and Security Policy (October 2006) - October, 2006

reports_12.pdf

annexes to EU research and innovation Policy and the future of the Commonon Foreign and Security Policy - October, 2006

reports_11.pdf

European Parliament

Parliamentary Update no. 37 on European military capabilities (Security and Defence Subcommittee/SEDE) - 3 June 2013 - June, 2013

epupdate-sede-3june13EM.pdf

The following Parliamentary Update covers the European Parliament’s extraordinary meeting on June 3^rd. The first part included a discussion on European military capabilities with Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive Director, European Defence Agency (EDA) and General Jean-Paul Palomeros, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO. The second part included an exchange of views with a delegation from the Committee on Defence – House of Representatives – The Netherlands.

Parliamentary Update no. 38 on the Council's Annual CFSP report and the situation in Turkey (Foreign Affairs Committee/AFET) - 6 June 2013 - June, 2013

epudate-afet-6june2013LA.pdf

The following Parliamentary Update covers the morning session of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET). The first part included an exchange of views between MEPs on the Council’s annual report on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The second part consisted of a debriefing by Michael Cashman on the working group of the Delegation for relations with South Africa. Similarly, the third part of the session included a debriefing by Emer Costello on the working group of the Delegation with the Palestinian Legislative Council. Finally, following the demand of several MEPs, the AFET Committee took the decision to add in the agenda a discussion about the current situation in Turkey.

Conference papers

ISIS Conference Review no2 - On the road with CSDP - November, 2012

MH Confreview2-30Oct2012.pdf

Cyprus EU Presidency Seminar

« On the road with CSDP »

30 October, 2012

Common perceptions, joint efforts and further integration are the primary requisites for the EU to foster its role of «security provider». If the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty defined an ambitious role for the EU in the world and aimed at improving its ability to assert its influence and power beyond its borders, the momentum created is now being torpedoed by an increased focus on the financial crisis and debates over the necessity of a fiscal and political union. While defence budgets and external support (i.e. from the US) are decreasing, perceived common challenges and threats are on the rise and get closer and closer to the EU. The optimism of the immediate post-Lisbon era has given space to a feeling of sustained pressure over national defence budgets, EU military capabilities, and over the Union’s capacity and preparedness to promote international security. As ambitious aspirations have come to face reality, neither the Member States nor the EU seem, yet, clearly committed to the path of further integration to foster CSDP.

ISIS Conference Review no1 - Innovative European Defence Cooperation - Pooling & Consolidating Demand - September, 2012

MH confreview1-19sept2012.pdf

Cyprus EU Presidency Seminar

« Innovative European Defence Cooperation – Pooling & Consolidating demand »

19 September, 2012

ISIS Europe attended the Cyprus EU Presidency Seminar organised by the 2012 Cyprus Presidency, in partnership with the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations and the European Defence Agency on: «Innovative European Defence Cooperation – Pooling and Consolidating Demand». The event was opened and introduced by Sven Biscop, Director of the European in the World Programme at Egmont, Ambassador Dominique Struye, Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Defence of Belgium, Demetris Eliades, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, and Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA).

Other articles

Security in the Sahel: Regional Initiatives in Pursuit of Long-Term Stability - April, 2013

Security in the Sahel_Atlantic Community Memo.pdf

Following our Parliamentary Update (8 April 2013) on the discussion held at the European Parliament with UN Special Envoy for the Sahel Romano Prodi, ISIS Europe is delighted to publish the following thought-provoking paper by the Atlantic Community open think-tank on the security situation in the Sahel region at their request. Feedback on the Memo has been provided by Dr. Thomas Bagger, Head of the Policy Planning Staff of Germany's Federal Foreign Office, which you can read here

Medical Supplies Procurement: State of Affairs within the EU - March 2013 - March, 2013

ISIS Europe ESDA Italia Occasional Paper - Medical Supplies Procurement - MH - March 2013.pdf

Medical equipment to support civilian and military Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations as well as humanitarian aid operations undertaken by the European Union (EU), are a critical component of the EU’s capacity to act beyond its borders in an effective and timely manner. Nevertheless, little research and analysis have, so far, been made on the state of affairs of the Union’s procurement of medical supplies. The present report attempts to fill the existing gap by adopting an approach focused on medical supplies procurement standards and procedures across the range of EU external activities and by analysing the potential for increased cooperation and coordination, notably through the European Defence Agency (EDA).

This Occasional Paper was published jointly by ISIS Europe and ESDA Italia.

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