The European Union and its flexible cooperation with the United Nations in peacekeeping: the case of European missions

Abstract

The practice of European Union (EU) missions and their mechanisms for the creation and deployment show that the EU behaves as a regional organisation that acts autonomously in peacekeeping, under the parameters of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and the legal framework of the Common Security Defence Policy (CSDP). In 2003, the formalization of this cooperation between the two organizations has been initiated and inter-agency mechanisms were established. Since 2013, the EU has designed a number of action plans that reflect its willingness to cooperate with the United Nations. Its peacekeeping missions are instruments of flexible cooperation with the United Nations and other regional organizations. Priority focus of intervention and cooperation include security and defence sector reform, the rule of law, advice and training, or support for peace in Africa. In its intervention, the EU has not in all cases had the prior authorisation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Civilian missions (peacekeeping) have been created and deployed without this authorization, although in general the UNSC has subsequently validated them with its resolutions on the conflict. By contrast, most military operations (peace enforcement) have been authorized by the UNSC, proving the Union's willingness to participate in operations with concreted and time-limited mandates.