Strategic Communication

Developing a Common Narrative for Civilian CSDP - Baseline Document for the 2025 CoE Civilian CSDP Summer Forum

European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management (CoE) Reports, articles, briefs Public 2025

This baseline document emphasises the importance of a common narrative and provides a series of guiding questions to be considered prior to developing such a narrative. It intends to provide food for thought on how MS can increase an understanding of civilian CSDP, secure political will, and increase secondments to civilian CSDP missions.

The title of this year's Civilian CSDP Summer Forum is "Developing a common narrative for civilian CSDP". The aim of the forum is to focus on how EU Member States (MS) - from a national perspective - can create a common narrative for civilian CSDP, which can be directed to relevant target groups. At the national level, a common narrative for civilian CSDP can underpin the added value of civilian CSDP tools, for example by explaining the linkages between security issues in host countries and in Member States. 

An effective narrative includes information about the purpose of Civilian CSDP, its stakeholders, the intended impact of Civilian CSDP missions, and the required capabilities for MS to engage in Civilian CSDP. 

Reference: Balint, B., Lingenthal, D. (2025). Developing a Common Narrative for Civilian CSDP, European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management. 

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