EU foreign policy cooperation was formalised as the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) under the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht), creating a distinct intergovernmental pillar for external relations and security coordination.
The Maastricht Treaty took legal effect, operationalising the EU’s three-pillar structure and making the CFSP an active framework for common positions and joint actions among Member States.
The Treaty of Amsterdam amended the TEU and introduced CFSP reforms that later enabled more continuity and visibility in EU external action, including creating the basis for the High Representative for the CFSP.
With Amsterdam in force, CFSP institutional changes became applicable, including arrangements that supported a more coherent EU external representation through the Council framework.
EU leaders agreed to strengthen a common European policy on security and defence within CFSP, emphasising the EU’s capacity for autonomous action in crisis management (the “Petersberg tasks” referenced in the TEU as amended).
Javier Solana assumed the new role of High Representative for the CFSP, providing a single high-profile figure to represent agreed EU foreign policy positions and support policy continuity within the Council system.
EU leaders set the Helsinki Headline Goal (capability target for 2003), linking CFSP crisis-management ambitions to concrete military capability planning for the full range of Petersberg tasks.
The Council created the Political and Security Committee (PSC) as a standing body to monitor the international situation and help steer CFSP/Crisis Management, later becoming central to political control and strategic direction of operations.
The Council established the European Union Military Committee (EUMC), providing military advice and recommendations within the EU’s emerging security and defence structures linked to CFSP.
The Council created the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) to provide military expertise and support for EU-led crisis-management operations, reinforcing the operational backbone for CFSP security tasks.
The Treaty of Nice was signed as part of broader EU institutional reform ahead of enlargement; it also formed part of the evolving treaty base underpinning CFSP/CSDP structures and decision-shaping processes.
EU–NATO cooperation arrangements known as Berlin Plus were agreed, enabling the EU (under certain conditions) to access NATO planning capabilities and assets for EU-led operations.
EUFOR Concordia started as the EU’s first military operation, taking over from NATO’s Allied Harmony and marking a practical milestone in the EU’s ability to run CFSP-linked crisis-management missions.
The European Council adopted “A Secure Europe in a Better World”, the first EU-level security strategy setting principles and objectives for advancing EU security interests and guiding CFSP/CSDP implementation.
Member States adopted the Council Joint Action establishing the European Defence Agency (EDA), supporting capability development and cooperation relevant to EU security and defence policy.
The EU launched EUFOR Operation ALTHEA, taking over from NATO’s SFOR and demonstrating sustained EU military engagement in stabilisation and implementation of the Dayton/Paris framework.
The Treaty of Lisbon was signed, setting out changes to the EU’s external action architecture, including creation of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the basis for the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Lisbon took effect, giving the EU legal personality, ending the pillar structure, and institutionalising new CFSP actors—especially the strengthened High Representative/Vice-President role and the framework to establish the EEAS.
Development of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (1992–2009)
