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A Strategic Compass for the EU

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The Strategic Compass provides greater direction and a common vision for the EU's efforts in security and defence.

A Strategic Compass for the EU

The Strategic Compass provides greater direction and a common vision for the EU's efforts in security and defence in the 5 to 10 years to come.

A quantum leap forward.

  • An uncertain global order
  • Threat Analysis
  • EU Strategic Compass
  • Strategy - Action Plan

Goals

Partner against common threats

Invest in capabilities and technologies

Act quickly and decisively in times of crisis

Secure against threats and protect EU citizens

 

FOUR PILLARS

PARTNER:

  • More tailor-made approaches in security and defence
  • Enhanced cooperation with the UN, NATO, the OSCE(1), the AU(2) and ASEAN(3)
  • A new security and defence partnerships forum to bring together multilateral, regional and bilateral partners

INVEST

  • A renewed focus on the joint development of next generation capabilities
  • Additional incentives to stimulate Member States’ collaborative investments in joint projects and procurements
  • Creation of a Defence Innovation Hub in the European Defence Agency
  • An exchange on Member States' national objectives on increased and improved defence spending

ACT  

  • 5000: troops to form a European Union Rapid Deployment Capacity
  • 200: fully equipped CSDP(4) mission experts to be deployed within 30 days, including in complex environment
  • Regular exercises to further strengthen mutual assistance in case of an armed aggression
  • A new action plan on military mobility

SECURE

  • A revised EU threat analysis by the end of 2022
  • A new EU Hybrid Toolbox for the coordinated response to hybrid campaigns
  • A new EU space strategy for security and defence
  • A strengthened EU Satellite Centre to boost the EU's autonomous geo-spatial intelligence capacity
  • Securing access to strategic domains: high seas, outer space, cyber space and air

Outer space:

  • Full use of the Galileo global positioning system and the Copernicus observation capacities in support of CSDP missions and operations
  • An EU capacity in space for secure governmental satellite communications

Air domain: ensure the safe and secure European access to airspace

Cyber space:

  • Protect and defend EU forces & military infrastructure against cyberattacks
  • A further development of the EU Cyber Defence Policy

Maritime security: increase EU’s naval presence within and beyond the EU

High seas:

  • Strengthen and expand the EU's naval operations
  • Expand the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept to other areas

 

(1) OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; (2) AU African Union; (3) ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations; (4) CSDP Common Security and Defence Policy