MARCH 2023
#EUDefence#StrategicCompass

S T R AT E G I C C O M P A S S

A STRATEGIC COMPASS FOR SECURITY AND DEFENCEThe EU needs to become a stronger and more capable actor in security and defence: both to protect the security of its
citizens and to act in crisis situations that affect the EU’s values and interests. With the Strategic Compass adopted inMarch 2022, Member States have agreed on a common strategic vision for the EU’s role in security and defence and havecommitted to a set of concrete and wide-ranging objectives to achieve these goals in the coming 5-10 years.

Europe must learn to speak the language ofpower. Over the next decade, we will make a quantum
leap to become a more assertive and decisive security
provider, better prepared to tackle present and future
threats and challenges."
JOSEP BORRELLHigh Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/
Vice-President of the European Commission

The world we face
A common strategic vision requires a shared understanding of the threats and challenges the EU will face in theforeseeable future. The EU’s first- ever comprehensive threat analysis, presented in November 2022, was an importantbasis for starting the work on the Strategic Compass. The Compass acknowledges that the Russian military aggression
against Ukraine constitutes a tectonic shift in European history. Overall, the Compass describes a European and global
security landscape that is more volatile, complex and fragmented than ever due to multi-layered threats.

Global level

Regional level

Threats against the EU

Principles of effective
multilateralism questioned growing
economic and political rivalry
between global powers, climatechange, competition for resources,instrumentalisation of irregularmigration, and threats to themultilateral system.

Traditional military threats andarmed aggression, destabilisinginterference/actions of state andnon-state actors, conflict, statefragility, and inter-state tensions
and external influences.

State and non-state actors
targeting the EU with hybrid tools,
including the misuse of disruptive
technologies, cyber-attacks,disinformation, and other nonmilitary sources of malign influence,and terrorism.

A STRATEGIC COMPASS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION

2THE EU AS SECURITY PROVIDER, GLOBAL ACTOR AND PARTNER IN SECURITY
AND DEFENCE
A united European commitment for a strong EU in security and defence is as crucial as ever. Building on a common senseof purpose and responsibility, the Strategic Compass specifies clear targets and milestones in four work strands:

ACT• Up to 5,000 strong EU Rapid
Deployment Capacity• Live exercises on land and atsea• Enhance Military Mobility• Increase effectiveness,flexibility and responsivenessof CSDP civilian missions• Reinforce military CSDP
missions andoperations

SECURE
Hybrid Toolbox and Response Teams •Cyber Diplomatic Toolbox and Cyber •Defence Policy
Foreign Information Manipulation •and Interference Toolbox
EU Space Strategy for •Security and Defence
Coordinated Maritime •Presences aroundthe world• More rapid andflexible
decisionmaking• Spend more and better- defence spending andincentives for cooperation• Strategic enablers and next
generation capabilities• Boost defence technologicalinnovation to reduce strategic
dependencies

INVEST

Strengthened strategic •partnership with NATO and the UN
Cooperation with regional partners •(OSCE, AU, ASEAN)
Strong and tailored bilateral partnerships •Military assistance to partners through •the European Peace Facility

PARTNER