Elements for an EU-wide strategic framework to support security sector reform

Security sector reform (SSR) is the process of transforming a country’s security system so that it gradually provides individuals and the state with more effective and accountable security in a manner consistent with respect for human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the principles of good governance. SSR is a long-term and political process, as it goes to the heart of power relations in a country. It needs to be nationally driven and requires political commitment and leadership, inter-institutional cooperation and broad stakeholder participation to achieve the widest possible consensus.

The EU’s engagement on SSR to date is assessed in the Joint Staff Working Document accompanying this Joint Communication, which summarises the findings from various evaluations, ‘lessons identified’ reports, studies and consultations with stakeholders over the past 15 years. The assessment concludes that there is room for improvement in the coherence, complementarity and coordination of the EU’s capacities and instruments. It also underlines that in-depth SSR is complex and requires long-term commitment, without prejudice to the shorter-term initiatives that might be needed to address immediate security threats.

The EU’s diplomatic and financial, military and civilian, short-term and long-term interventions should be anchored more securely in a single EU-wide SSR support framework that takes account of the interlinkages between politics, security, justice, humanitarian response, development, conflict and fragility. Particularly in fragile, developing and transition countries, SSR requires political, financial and technical support from international partners. With its global reach, wide-ranging external policies, instruments, tools and well-established presence and experience, the EU is well placed to support partner countries in this respect, in coordination with other international actors, including the UN.

This Joint Communication provides elements for such a framework. It reflects the ‘comprehensive approach’ to external conflict and crisis in bringing together common security and defence policy (CSDP) and all other relevant common foreign and security policy (CFSP) tools, external action instruments and freedom, security and justice actors, thus merging and updating two previously separate EU policy concepts for SSR support. It will contribute to the effectiveness of the Global Strategy on foreign and security policy and of the European Agenda on Security. It also takes account of relevant OECD-DAC decisions and, where applicable, OECD-DAC directives in the field of peace and security.

EUR-Lex: SWD(2016)221: Lessons drawn from past interventions and stakeholders’ views http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2016:221:FIN

ESO: Background information: New proposals to improve the EU's support for security and development in partner countries http://www.europeansources.info/record/new-proposals-to-improve-the-eus-support-for-security-and-development-in-partner-countries/

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