FBA and the EU
The EU is Sweden’s most important foreign policy platform. Europe and Sweden are facing the most serious security situation in modern times, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. By strengthening countries’ capacity to address cross-border security threats, our own national security is also reinforced. FBA’s partnership with the EU aims to strengthen the EU as a global actor for peace and security. FBA collaborates primarily with the EU in three core areas: civil crisis management, EU integration, and the EU’s integrated approach to conflicts and crises.
Civil Crisis Management
Through the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the EU works on civil crisis management and conflict prevention. This can include strengthening societal resilience, supporting democratic institutions, or monitoring a border area in a conflict zone.
FBA helps ensure that civil crisis management missions in different countries achieve their objectives effectively, primarily by providing personnel secondments. FBA also contributes through training, advisory services, and policy support.
Priority missions include the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM), the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA). FBA also seconds personnel to EU missions in countries such as Iraq, Mali, Moldova, Palestine, and Somalia, and works to strengthen coordination between civilian and military actors.
EU Integration
All European countries have the opportunity to apply for EU membership. To become a member, a country must meet the Copenhagen criteria, which include stable democratic institutions, the rule of law, human rights, and a functioning market economy.
EU integration is the process through which a candidate country gradually aligns its laws, institutions, and societal structures with EU standards and regulations to qualify for membership.
It is the responsibility of each candidate country to implement the necessary reforms and adapt to EU standards. The EU actively provides support, guidance, and recommendations and assesses the progress made by candidate countries.
FBA has expertise in several areas related to EU integration and supports reform initiatives in multiple candidate countries, including strengthening the rule of law, promoting human rights, and reforming public administration, which are key components of the EU accession process.
The EU’s Integrated Approach to Conflicts and Crises
The EU’s integrated approach is a framework for coherent EU engagement in external conflicts and crises. It encompasses the full range of EU tools for crisis prevention, conflict resolution, and stabilization, including diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and development cooperation.
The integrated approach ensures that the EU acts in a coordinated, consistent, and effective manner throughout all stages of a conflict, contributing to a stronger and more unified EU presence on the ground.
FBA contributes by promoting coordination and dialogue between different EU actors and systems to achieve more effective results.
Personnel Contributions
FBA also provides seconded personnel to EU institutions and bodies in Brussels. These secondments include positions at the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission, EU Special Representatives, and the European Security and Defence College.
EEAS (European External Action Service): 12 personnel
European Commission: 2 personnel
EU Special Representatives: 1 personnel