The European Union's policy regarding peace and security in sub-Saharan Africa since the end of the Cold War concepts and implementation

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the policy of the European Union towards sub-Saharan Africa since the end of the Cold War. The main research question is: Has EU policy toward Africa changed fundamentally, and, if so, what are the motivating factors? This thesis argues that there indeed is a paradigmatic change in the Africa policy. Especially since the formation of the European Security and Defense Policy in 1999, the EU has become more active and capable in implementing its missions in the region. The author looks first at basic guiding documents, especially the European Security Strategy and the EU Strategy for Africa, in order to trace the evolution of the EU's concepts. Then he investigates institutional, military, and civilian crisis management capacities available today to operate in that region. A case study on EU intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo 2003-06 analyzes the scope and effectiveness of the EU's actions. It is shown that the EU has a unique variety of instruments available which enable it to operate in a broad mission spectrum. Military and civil operations complement one another. The EU's policy is guided by its norms, by a new threat perception and by France's national interests in that region.