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This study, published by the European Parliament, analyses disinformation campaigns against CSDP missions and operations with case studies on the missions in Georgia, Moldova, and Mali. The authors find that disinformation campaigns do not systematically target missions but threaten them in broader campaigns against EU influence in host countries. To counter them the study recommends a more cohesive and proactive approach making use of strategic communication tools to protect EU credibility and legitimacy with local audiences and actors.

This infographic provides an overview of all basic information on the secondment process for civilian CSDP missions. It can be used to give potential candidates an idea of what they can expect from secondment and the process around it.

In a series of three workshops with a triangular approach (EU Member States, EU institutions and the missions), this last one focused on the operational orientation on CSDP-JHA cooperation. Operational examples showcased the added value for Member States, the seconding services and the secondees, among other aspects knowledge and experience transfer from the field into the national services. The missions also showed through these operational examples the value of receiving and returning expertise from and to the Member States.

This study examines representations by the German Federal Government on its engagement in Mali in German print media and makes recommendations for future communication measures. It is in German, but comes with an executive summary in English outlining its methodology and summarising the recommendations.

These official EU guidelines instruct partners in external actions on how to ensure proper visibility and strategic communication of the EU’s role. They cover the use of the EU emblem and funding statement, the conditions for co-branding and derogation and the requirements for strategic communication plans and activities. They provide a useful description of standard use of the EU’s visual identity and a step-by-step guide to formulating a strategic communications plan.

Cluster 5 virtual workshop "Strategic Communication and Women’s Representation in Civilian CSDP Missions", held on 21 June 2022, combined two important cross-cutting themes of the Civilian CSDP Compact: increasing women’s participation in civilian CSDP Missions at all levels and strategic communication, which both have a dedicated informal Cluster working group to enhance the implementation of the Compact commitments. Strategic communication has also been identified as one of the four key areas of strategic engagement in the Strategy and Action Plan to enhance women’s participation in civilian CSDP missions 2021-2024 (14885/21).

This paper seeks to contribute to the operationalisation of cooperation between the realms of civilian CSDP and JHA, by shining light on the different understandings of the term, both conceptually and operationally, and on the risks of and obstacles for operationalisation. The paper also provides a number of policy recommendations.

Personal (success) stories give civilian CSDP Missions a face and a voice. This concept paper includes tangible suggestions and good practice examples of EU Member States and civilian CSDP Missions and provides guidance on how to create and disseminate personal (success) stories and integrate them into communication strategies for civilian CSDP. As a service-provider for its members, the CoE stands ready to provide tailored support to members when it comes to creating individual personal success stories in the form of, for example, videos, testimonial posts or interviews.

This paper traces twenty years (1995-2015) of the Portuguese Ministry of Home Affairs’ contribution to peacekeeping and civilian missions, including CSDP civilian missions. Besides the informative aspect of that report, it can serve as an example of strategic communication and valorisation of civilian forces’ participation in international missions.

This video, co-produced by the CoE and CPCC, focuses on the application process for secondment to a civilian CSDP Mission. How do potential secondees apply for secondment, and how does the candidate selection process work?