ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the incidences of the use of force seem to be an issue area of considerable unease and discomfort in the official portrayal of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations, and the occasional cases of the use of military force in the field have been rather hidden from the public and reports diluted. With the establishment of the European Security and Defence Policy in 2002, European Union crisis management has seen a relatively rapid build-up of military planning and executive structures and a flourishing of overseas EU operations. As a general procedure, rules of engagement (ROE) are issued by competent authorities, and they assist in the delineation of the circumstances. Moreover, guidance on the use of force for each EU-led military operation is included in the Crisis Management Concept (CMC), the Military Strategic Options (MSOs), the Initiating Military Directive (IMD), the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and the Operation Plan (OPLAN) pertaining to each operation.
