THE COMMON SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION THROUGH THE LENS OF EUFOR ALTHEA
THE COMMON SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION THROUGH THE LENS OF EUFOR ALTHEA

Summary/Abstract: The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is one of the European Union’s (EU) newest policies, ensuring the Union’s operational capacity. Through the CSDP, the EU enhances its military capabilities and fosters cooperation among its member states, with the aim of preventing conflicts and managing crises. The most extensive and longest-running EU peace mission is the military operation EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), established in 2004. Its goal is to monitor the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and support stability in BiH. The operation is of critical importance for European peace and stability, as BiH borders EU member states, and any instability along those borders presents a security risk for the EU. EUFOR Althea is the only EU peace mission in which the Republic of North Macedonia participates at this moment.This paper analyzes the functioning of the CSDP through the EUFOR Althea operation, assessing its goals and achievements, while, at the same time, examining its successes, weaknesses, and lessons learned. It also explores how the Republic of North Macedonia’s (before 2019, the Republic of Macedonia) participation in EUFOR Althea is regulated and what contributions it has made to the operation. Finally, it examines whether the CSDP has the capacity to successfully address the security threats posed by the new, volatile global environment.

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