The EU has since 2003 begun to assert itself operationally as well, carrying out 23 ESDP missions, six of which have been significant military operations. It has engaged in the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East, and Afghanistan, as well as South-East Asia with its Aceh peacekeeping mission, and more recently in the Caucasus and in the Indian Ocean.
自 2003 年始，欧盟就开始声称自己也可以独立行动，并执行了 23 次欧洲防务和安全任务，其中还有 6 次是重大的军事行动。其足迹涉及巴尔干地区，非洲，中东和阿富汗，东南亚地区印尼亚齐省的维和任务，以及最近在高加索和印度洋的行动。