On Monday 17 July, the EU Council adopted, without debate, a crisis management concept for a new civilian CSDP mission in Iraq, for the reform of the security sector, in response to a request from the Iraqi authorities.
According to a European source, this mission, which is expected to be deployed to Baghdad in the autumn and comprise around 20 members, will focus on assisting the Iraqi authorities with implementation of the civilian aspects of Iraq's security strategy. The Iraqi national security strategy aims to build state institutions capable of consolidating security and peace, and prevent conflicts under the rule of law. The strategy also outlines a number of threats to national security, including terrorism, corruption, political instability and ethnic and sectarian polarisation, the EU Council says in a press release.
The adoption of a crisis management concept is the first step to launch a new CSDP mission, after which preparations to deploy begin. According to a European source, the decision to establish the mission is due to be taken soon after the summer break.
The EU's foreign affairs ministers stated in their conclusions of 19 June that the EU would examine the deployment of such a mission (see EUROPE 11811). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)