ABSTRACT
The EU is becoming more and more involved in conflict prevention and crisis management. To some extent this may be described as the ‘new frontier’ as regards an identity for EU foreign and security policy. It is also becoming one of the main driving forces of European integration, although an area bedevilled by disputes over competences. There is also a perception by third countries that the EU is becoming a major player in crisis management and has established a reputation as an honest broker. The EU has developed a mix of instruments to use in handling sensitive political and security situations. These instruments cover all three pillars, which sometimes creates problems of coherence in EU policy, and include political dialogue, trade and economic measures (including sanctions), development and humanitarian assistance. Some examples of EU action include its mediation in Macedonia, its support for UN peace-keeping in the Congo and its crisis-management operation in Aceh, Indonesia.
