Common Security and Defence Policy ||This article has multiple
issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the
talk page. This article is part of the series: The Common
Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), formerly known as the
European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), is a major element
of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union
(EU) and is the domain of EU policy covering defence and
military aspects, as well as civilian crisis management. The
ESDP was the successor of the European Security and Defence
Identity under NATO, but differs in that it falls under the
jurisdiction of the European Union itself, including countries
with no ties to NATO. Formally, the Common Security and Defence
Policy is the domain of the European Council, which is an EU
institution, whereby the heads of member states meet.
Nonetheless, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, also plays a
significant role. In her position as Chairman of the