International Collaborative Strategy on Security Matters (ICSSM)

The European Union (EU) approaches foreign and security policy challenges collectively, with a focus on maintaining peace, security, and prosperity for its citizens. This collaborative effort is facilitated through the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), a framework that allows the EU member states to jointly analyze and assess the global situation.

At the heart of this policy is the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, currently Kaja Kallas. The High Representative chairs the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), serves as the hub, executor, and face of European foreign policy, and coordinates the EU's diplomatic network through the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The EU's CFSP is an intergovernmental endeavour, existing alongside the foreign and security policies of its member states and not pooled. Decisions, such as the imposition of sanctions or the deployment of an EU mission, are usually made unanimously by the member states.

The EU's foreign and security policy focuses on current political events and long-term crisis and conflict prevention in regions such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Despite differing interests and the complex nature of coordination among many actors, the member states and the EU work together daily to develop viable common approaches.

In multilateral forums such as the UN Human Rights Council, EU member states regularly throw their collective weight behind human rights and democratic principles. The EU has also played a significant role in global agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, and in diplomatic achievements, like the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of 2015, which has effectively contained the threat of an Iranian nuclear bomb for several years.

The Council of the European Union's FAC is the central organ for the EU's CFSP. The 27 EU member states maintain permanent representations in Brussels to the EU, NATO, and the Commission, ensuring constant communication and a swift response to international developments. These permanent representations are in constant contact, developing response options collectively.

In summary, the EU's CFSP is a testament to the power of collaboration and diplomacy. Through a collective, unified approach, the EU contributes daily to peace, security, and prosperity for its citizens, while also playing a significant role on the global stage.