CSDP structure

During the Nice European Council meeting in December 2000, the decision was made to create permanent political and military structures to ensure the strategic management of European Union (EU) operations.

Political and Security Committee
The Political and Security Committee (PSC) meets at the ambassadorial level and its main functions are keeping track of the international situation, and helping to define policies within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) including the CSDP. PSC ensures political control and strategic direction of CSDP operations. It also provides guidance to the Military Committee. Committee is supported by three other committees:

• EU Military Committee (EUMC). It is composed of the Chiefs of Defence of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent military representatives. The EUMC provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU.
• Politico - Military Group (PMG).
• Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM).

EU institutional reform led to integration of EU crisis management structures (Military Staff, Crisis Management and Planning Directorate, Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability and Situation Centre) into European External Action Service, establishing direct supervision of the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy.

Military Staff (EUMS)

Under direction of Military Committee, Military Staff delivers military strategy options for military operations under the CSDP. Military Staff is mostly composed of military experts seconded by EU member states.

EU Operations Centre

Five national headquarters (in UK, France, Greece, Italy and Germany) have assured their availability for EU operations, becoming the preferred choice (option) for EU operations. If none of the national headquarters is available for EU operations, EU member states may agree to activate the backup crisis management option, the EU Operations Centre. Operations Centre is not permanent headquarters. It can only be activated during a crisis. Its core staff is comprised of small group of double-hatting experts from EU Military Staff. Operations Centre can manage small-scale operations such as battlegroup-size operations. Centre is used for military and also joint civil-military operations.

Crisis Management and Planning Directorate (CMPD)

Crisis Management and Planning Directorate was established in January 2010. It is primarily in charge of bringing together and integration of civilian-military expertise and strategic planning, thus providing single civil-military approach to operations. In case of future crises, Crisis Management and Planning Directorate will have to be able to respond quickly and become an efficient civilian-military coordination tool.

Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC)

CPCC is responsible for planning and monitoring of civilian missions rolled out under CSDP. It oversees civilian missions in areas such as police, border control, rule of law and security sector reform.

EU Intelligence and Situation Centre (EU SITCEN)

SITCEN is responsible for providing early warnings, situational awareness and intelligence analysis to the EU High Representative and its office, various EU decision-makers responsible for CFSP, CSDP and counter-terrorism. SITCEN collects and assesses information about international affairs, offering evidence-based suggestions on civilian, military and other EU crisis response measures.