On 2 and 3 July 2026, the European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management (CoE), together with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, held the annual Civilian CSDP Summer Forum in Dublin.  

Taking place at a pivotal moment for civilian CSDP, the Summer Forum brought together representatives from EU Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to assess what the Civilian CSDP Compacts have achieved so far, while considering how civilian crisis management can evolve beyond the conclusion of the current Compact in 2027.  

OPENING REMARKS

The Summer Forum opened with welcoming remarks from Irish Minister of State Neale Richmond, CoE Director Ms Johanna Sumuvuori, and Chair of the CoE General Meeting, Eddy Fonyódi. These were then followed by a Keynote speech by Mr Gerard Keown, Political Director at Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs.  

It was an honour to welcome Minister Richmond to open the Forum, which was the first security-related event of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. He highlighted security as one of the Presidency's three overarching priorities, alongside competitiveness and European values, emphasising that the current security environment requires a stronger European response, and noting that civilian CSDP remains an essential instrument for this.   

CoE Director Johanna Sumuvuori then welcomed participants, highlighting that the Forum came at a decisive moment for civilian CSDP. With the current Civilian CSDP Compact approaching the end of its implementation cycle, she emphasised the importance of looking beyond capability development towards a broader strategic discussion on the future direction of civilian CSDP.  

Eddy Fonyódi, Chair of the CoE General Meeting and Advisory Board, framed the significance of the 2026 Summer Forum discussions around the current timeline, strategy, and existing foundations for civilian CSDP. He noted the Compact’s expiry in 2027, the increasingly challenging security environment, and the need for civilian CSDP to contribute to the EU's growing role as a security actor, emphasising the foundations already in place from previous Compact cycles.  

KEYNOTE

As Keynote speaker, Mr Gerard Keown then highlighted the rapidly evolving European security environment and the growing importance of civilian CSDP in addressing today's complex challenges. Reflecting on the EU’s deployment of the first CSDP missions in 2003, and the publishing of the EU’s inaugural security strategy in the same year, he highlighted the shift between the security landscape of past and present.   

In light of preparations for a new European Security Strategy, he encouraged participants to consider the future role of civilian CSDP beyond 2027 and how it can continue to contribute to the EU's integrated approach to security. He stressed that civilian CSDP remains a flagship instrument for civilian crisis management and peacebuilding, and that maintaining its visibility, effectiveness, and Member State ownership will be essential in the years ahead.  

PANEL DISCUSSION | TAKING STOCK OF THE CIVILIAN CSDP COMPACT 

The central panel discussion focused on the topic: Taking Stock of the Civilian CSDP Compact Cycles and Informing the Way Forward.  

The panel was comprised of:  

• Maura O’Sullivan, Deputy Head of Mission for EUAM Ukraine 

• Eddy Fonyódi, Deputy Director and Head of the EU Security and Defence Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden 

• Rumyana Kamberska, Head of CSDP Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria; and  

• Boris Gehrke, Head of Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Germany. 

A video address was delivered by Gábor Tóthi, Chair of the EU Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CivCom), ahead of the panel discussion to set the scene, with expert comments also shared by Peter Eshuis, Head of Division, PCM.1, EEAS, and Philipp Neubauer, Policy Expert, CivOpsHQ.1, EEAS. 

Panel Takeaways

1. The Compact Has Delivered Tangible Results  

The panel agreed on the instrumental role the Compact has played in strengthening civilian CSDP across Member States. By providing a common political framework, it has supported the development of National Implementation Plans, improved national coordination structures, strengthened expertise in areas such as hybrid threats, cyber security, and strategic communications, and increased both secondments and political awareness of civilian CSDP. 

At the same time, speakers recognised that the security environment has evolved considerably since the Compact was developed. Civilian CSDP has currently expanded to thirteen missions, which operate in increasingly complex environments requiring greater flexibility, specialised expertise, and closer integration with wider EU security efforts. 

Drawing on national experiences, panel representatives shared examples of the Compact's impact in their home countries. These included:  

• increases in secondments; 

• stronger inter-agency cooperation; 

• improved human resources processes;  

• enhanced leadership and training, and 

• the growing institutionalisation of civilian CSDP within national administrations. 

2. Political Commitment is the Critical Success Factor 

Participants stressed that sustained high-level political ownership is essential to maintaining momentum. Strong leadership, dedicated national coordination structures, and engagement beyond Ministries of Foreign Affairs were identified as key drivers of successful implementation. 

3. Recruitment and Personnel Remain a Challenge  

Persistent vacancies—particularly for specialists in cyber security, hybrid threats, and strategic communications—remain one of the greatest operational obstacles facing missions. Participants emphasised that secondments should be viewed not only as contributions to   EU missions but also as strategic investments that strengthen national expertise when personnel return home. 

4. Civilian CSDP Must Be Integrated into the EU Security Strategy 

There was broad agreement that civilian crisis management should be firmly embedded within the EU's integrated approach to security, with stronger links to civil-military cooperation, broader foreign policy objectives, partnerships with NATO and like-minded partners, and the future European Security Strategy. 

5. Missions Must Remain Adaptive and Operationally Relevant  

Speakers highlighted the need for greater flexibility, faster decision-making, and mandates that can adapt quickly to changing realities on the ground. Experiences from Ukraine were repeatedly cited as demonstrating the importance of resilience, adaptability, and rapid response. 

6. Visibility and Strategic Communication Remain a Priority.  

Participants agreed that the achievements of civilian CSDP are often insufficiently visible. They highlighted that better communication of mission results and their contribution to European security will be essential for maintaining political support, strengthening public understanding, and securing the resources needed for future missions. 

GROUP DISCUSSIONS | LOOKING BEYOND 2027 

Guided by discussion questions, participants then broke into groups to discuss how best to preserve momentum for civilian CSDP beyond 2027.  

Several approaches were identified, including embedding civilian CSDP more fully within the future European Security Strategy, integrating it into a broader Common Foreign and Security Policy framework, and developing a dedicated successor to the current Compact.  

Participants also emphasised the importance of preserving the visibility, political commitment, and accountability that the Compacts have already successfully established over the past decade. 

Across the discussion, there was consensus that any future framework should be more strategic, more political, and more results-oriented, while remaining closely aligned with wider EU security objectives. 

WHAT'S NEXT? 

The 2026 Summer Forum marked the beginning of the important process of shaping the future of civilian CSDP as the current Compact approaches its conclusion. 

Building on the lessons of the past two Compact cycles, discussions demonstrated both the significant progress achieved and the need to continue adapting civilian CSDP to an increasingly demanding security environment.  

The reflections and recommendations from the Summer Forum will be compiled into formal notes and a report to ensure the discussions contribute to ongoing conversations on the future strategic framework for civilian CSDP beyond 2027. These will be available on the protected part of our Knowledge Hub once published.  

A warm thank you and congratulations to the 2026 Irish Presidency for their impeccable hosting of the Summer Forum at Iveagh House in Dublin, as well as to all participants for the extremely valuable contributions.