EU-US cooperation in post-conflict reconstruction

Since the launch of the first CSDP operation in December 2003, the EU has conducted military operations in the Balkans and sub-Saharan Africa but has also engaged in post-conflict reconstruction and state-building through a number of civilian CSDP missions that have focused on police, justice and border reform. The growth and the operational development of CSDP in civilian crisis management has led to a re-thinking of European contributions to international security on the part of the US.  In the Balkans, where Europe and the US pursue shared political interests, the US participates in the EU’s rule of law mission EULEX Kosovo. Beyond the Balkans, the EU increasingly operates globally and alongside the US, such as in Afghanistan through its police mission EUPOL Afghanistan.  

With these developments, the EU-US security relationship has increasingly moved beyond NATO. Both sides of the Atlantic have identified terrorism, state failure and regional conflicts as key security challenges; and both recognize that addressing these challenges requires civilian rather than merely military instruments and expertise.  This project analyzes respective transatlantic approaches to post-conflict reconstruction. It pays particular emphasis to cooperation mechanisms and seeks to identify obstacles but also enablers for improved coordination and collaboration.

Researcher: Eva Gross

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