Common Security and Defence Policy and defence cooperation in the European Union

Defence cooperation in the European Union reinforces the defence capabilities of EU Member States, strengthens the basis of a European defence capability and consolidates the EU as a security community and a global actor.

The nature of EU defence cooperation has evolved especially since Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine. The Strategic Compass, approved in 2022, outlines the course of defence cooperation in the EU. In addition, the White Paper on the Future of European Defence – Readiness 2030, issued by the Commission in March 2025, proposes guidelines for raising defence readiness in Europe by 2030. Besides the EU External Action, the EU and its Member States are taking a variety of measures to invest in European security and supporting broadly the strengthening of Member States’ defence capability.

The mutual defence clause in Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) obligates Member States to give concrete assistance and support their activities to prevent threats. Alongside the EU’s other commitments and the strong interdependence in the EU, the clause lowers the risk of individual Member States being subjected to coercion. Finland has the necessary capacity to implement the mutual defence clause and to give and receive international assistance.

Finland supports the efforts to develop defence cooperation in the EU through EU action, the strengthening of European security, the development of capabilities and cooperation with the EU’s partners. Finland especially endorses the development of the EU’s activities in the cyber, space and maritime domains, the introduction of EU-level arrangements for security of supply and the creation of an EU Hybrid Toolbox. The EU’s Preparedness Union Strategy develops the common preparedness of the European Union and its Member States in appropriate ways.

A key element of the strengthening of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base is to support European defence research and to raise the capacity of Europe’s defence industry. European defence capability can be developed by making use of the EU’s defence cooperation initiatives and the EU’s wider toolbox, which includes legislation, budget and the mutual defence clause.

The efforts of the EU, NATO and smaller multinational frameworks, such as the Nordic Defence Cooperation, do not compete with each other. The strengthening of defence cooperation in the EU supports the further development of cooperation between the EU and NATO. EU and NATO activities complement and benefit each other.

EU crisis management operations and Finland's participation

The European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), which is an integral part of the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and external relations, is a cornerstone of defence cooperation in the EU. The most visible part of the CSDP is EU-led crisis management operations carried out in accordance with the comprehensive approach to crisis management. 

Finland actively participates in developing the EU's crisis management in connection with the implementation of the Strategic Compass that guides the Union's security and defence cooperation. The aim is to strengthen preparedness for external action by developing crisis management structures, funding, troop formation and rapid response capabilities.

Finland currently contributes to five military crisis management operations of the EU with around 90 soldiers. This includes two training and assistance missions in Africa, the EU Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) and the EU Military Assistance Mission Mozambique (EUMAM Mozambique) which contribute to developing the capabilities of the security forces and armed forces of these countries. Finland's participation in EUTM Mali training operation ended in spring 2024 when the EU Member States decided not to extend its mandate after 18 May 2024.

Of the EU's maritime crisis management operations, Finland participates in the EU Naval Force operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI), which aims to disturb and prevent the operating conditions of human smugglers especially from Libya and to reduce illegal immigration to Europe. EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, established at the beginning of 2024, complements international efforts to secure sea routes in the Red Sea and its neighbouring areas in response to the threat posed by Houthi attacks to merchant shipping.

Finland also participates in the training support given to Ukraine, the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine), the strategic objective of which is to promote the military capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces through training and thus support Ukraine's ability to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to protect civilians. The training takes place outside Ukraine.

In addition to military measures, the EU aims to stabilise the security situation in the countries of the region through civilian crisis management. One of the EU's strengths is that it has a wide range of conflict prevention and crisis management tools at its disposal: from diplomacy to development cooperation and from civilian and military crisis management to trade policy. A military crisis management operation led by the EU should not be looked at as a separate operation, but as part of the overall activities of the EU in the area. Cases in point include the Union's presence in the Western Balkans, the Horn of Africa and providing support to Ukraine.

Read more about EU crisis management and all ongoing operations on the website of the European External Action Service.