This document summarizes a presentation on improving the EU's conflict response. It discusses how crisis response has become more complex with more actors involved. Crisis management is about preventing, responding to, and assisting with crises, but is not necessarily conflict resolution. A comprehensive approach needs flexibility and ownership from multiple actors. There are challenges to the EU's comprehensive approach in areas like political agenda, organizational issues, and ownership. The presentation calls for addressing these challenges to improve the strategic purpose, operational effectiveness, and efficiency of the EU's crisis response institutions.

1. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
IMPROVING EU CONFLICT RESPONSE
IECEU Kickoff Plenary Session
Brussels, 16th June 2015
Professor Dr Robert Galavan
Joint Academic Direcotor, Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention

2. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
Crisis Response – A Changing Landscape
• Increasing complexity of issues addressed
• Increased number of agents involved
• Illusiveness of the “Comprehensive” approach
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3. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
What is crisis management
• Loosely defined term
• Preventing
• Responding
• Assisting
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4. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
Crisis Management
• Is not necessarily Conflict Resolution
• External forces don’t resolve conflicts
• Conflict Intervention needs short and long-term impacts
• Respond rapidly to crisis
• In time - build the capabilities of actors to manage conflict
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5. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
Whole of State Approach
• Political
• Military
• Security
• Institutions
• Civil society
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6. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
The / A / Our Comprehensive Approach
• Afghanistan
• Political Agenda not planned by the EU
• Bi-lateral missions in policing
• Little on the ground presence and behind high walls
• Organisational issues (skills, staff, cultures, communications)
• Political – not ours
• Military – NATO
• Security – Bilateral and EU (also consider EUSR)
• Institutions – at a distance
• Civil society – ownership challenges
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7. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
“A” Comprehensive approach
• Plurality
• Flexibility
• Dynamic
• Responsive
• Iterative
• Multiple ownership
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8. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
Contrast with the military needs
• Ends
• Ways
• Means
• Centre of Gravity (CoG)
• The Important Thing (TIT)
• The Really Important Thing (TRIT)
• The Thing to Focus On (TTTFO)
• Silver Bullet
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9. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
CoG
• Clarity
• Logic
• Precision
• Testability
• The is a CENTRE – at least conceptually
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10. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
The CSDP snake
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11. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
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12. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
Culture Clashes in Crisis Management
• Learn to act
• Centre of Gravity
• End State
• Control
• Hierarchies
• Act to learn
• Sources of influence
• Resilience in change
• Robust systems
• Networks
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13. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
A “New” security “Strategy”
• What is the current strategic situation
• Russia, ISIL, North Africa etc.
• What are our objectives?
• Budgets, partnerships, etc.
• The future challenges are hybrid
• Decentralised, unconventional, cyber, propaganda
• NATO
• Shall we dance
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14. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
We must address
• Strategic Purpose of CSDP (in ESS)
• Operational Effectiveness of Institutions
• Efficiency of Organisations
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15. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
Can we aspire to this headline?
The EU was praised for its speed of response to the crisis.
It rapidly harnessed the assets of its member states using
its well established expertise in high level coordination and
complex planning.
The EU’s well developed understanding of effective crisis
response means that once political approval is given,
everybody immediately knows what to do and moves from
the ground up in a coordinated fashion to ensure the right
outcome for the people affected.
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16. This project has received funding from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement no 653371
Professor Robert Galavan
• Professor of Strategic Management, Maynooth University
• Email Robert@RobertGalavan.com
• LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgalavan
• Project site https://ieceu.maynoothuniversity.ie
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