CSDP missions and operations: Lessons learned processes

The first Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) mission was launched in 2003. Since then the EU has launched 24 civilian missions and military operations. Despite the tendency of military operations to attract more attention, the majority of CSDP interventions have been civilian missions. Since the beginning, the actors involved in CSDP recognised the need to learn from the different aspects of missions and operations. The tools and methodologies to guarantee a successful learning process have evolved over time, together with the evolution of CSDP. This study represents a first stock-taking exercise of the lessons learned processes at the EU level.