SWOT Analysis of the Common Security and Defence Policy for Being Better Prepared for “Black Swan Events”
SWOT Analysis of the Common Security and Defence Policy for Being Better Prepared for “Black Swan Events”

Author(s): Monika Panayotova
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, International relations/trade, Security and defense
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: CSDP; Strategic Compass; European autonomy; European defence fund (EDF); Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO); EU Global strategy
Summary/Abstract: This publication aims to look at the process of strategic rethinking of the Common Security and Defence Policy 5 years after the adoption of the Global Strategy for the Foreign and Security Policy. It is based on a SWOT analysis of CSDP and places special emphasis on the need of more flexibility and less time-consuming decision-making process, in order EU to be better prepared for the so-called “black swan events”. With no intention of being exhaustive, it provides an analysis of certain tendencies in the policy which aims at enabling the Union to take a leading role in the international relations. In this regard the article: i) on the one hand: focuses on the key elements of the SWOT analysis, revealing what the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the CSDP are; ii) on the other hand: draws attention to the concept of the “black swan events”, the new Strategic compass and the need for EU Global strategy transformation into a smart strategy, balancing between strategic vision and flexibility.

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