Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - A Concept for European Community support for security sector reform {SEC(2006) 658}
Date: 2006-05-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: common foreign and security policy, conflict prevention, cooperation policy, democracy, development aid, establishment of peace, public safety, the EU's international role

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 24.5.2006 
COM(2006) 253 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND  
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

A Concept for European Community Support for Security Sector Reform 

{SEC(2006) 658} 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

3. 

3.1. 

3.2. 

4. 

4.1. 

4.2. 

4.3. 

5. 

5.1. 

5.2. 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

Rationale and Overall Aim........................................................................................... 4 

The Security System and its Reform............................................................................ 4 

The need for security sector reform ............................................................................. 4 

The security system and its reform .............................................................................. 5 

European Community Support for SSR....................................................................... 6 

Areas of engagement.................................................................................................... 6 

Principles guiding EC support for SSR........................................................................ 7 

The particular role and strength of EC support for SSR .............................................. 8 

EU support for SSR in the Future ................................................................................ 9 

EC perspectives on how to strengthen the overall EU support for SSR ...................... 9 

Recommendation to strengthen the EC contribution to overall EU support  
for SSR ....................................................................................................................... 10 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND  
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

A Concept for European Community Support for Security Sector Reform 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

The European Union’s external action underlines its identity as a global player and 
partner  working  to  promote  its  common  values,  namely  respect  for  human  rights, 
fundamental freedoms, peace, democracy, good governance, gender equality, the rule 
of  law,  and  solidarity  and  justice,  including  in  the  area  of  security  sector  reform.1 
Preventing  and  resolving  violent  conflict,  combating  terrorism  and  addressing  state 
fragility are part of the EU’s efforts to reduce insecurity and eradicate poverty, thus 
helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, sustainable development and 
global security. 

Today there is greater recognition in the international community and within the EU 
that  security  sector  reform,  or  security  system  reform  as  it  is  also  referred  to, 
reflecting  the  multi-sector  nature  of  the  security  system,  is  an  important  part  of 
to 
conflict  prevention,  peace  building  and  democratisation  and  contributes 
sustainable  development.  SSR  concerns  reform  of  both  the  bodies  which  provide 
security  to  citizens  and  the  state  institutions  responsible  for  management  and 
oversight  of  those  bodies.  Thus,  security  system  reform  goes  beyond  the  notion  of 
effectiveness  of  individual  services  (including  the  military,  the  police,  the  justice 
institutions,  etc.)  and  instead  focuses  on  the  overall  functioning  of  the  security 
system  as  part  of  a  governance  reform  policy  and  strategy  of  the  public  sector.  In 
other words, SSR should be seen as a holistic process, strengthening security for all 
citizens as well as addressing governance deficits. This is to ensure that the security 
sector is not placed or treated outside the overall public sector, but seen as an integral 
but  balanced  part  of  public  resource  allocations  and  the  institutional  framework  of 
the state. Although some aspects of SSR can be short-term, the overall SSR process 
needs to be long-term and be based on strong national ownership.  

SSR is not a new area of engagement for the European Union. It has been an integral 
part of EU integration, enlargement and external assistance for many years. Through 
Community instruments the EU has supported reform processes in partner countries 
and  regions  in  different  parts  of  the  world  and  under  a  wide  range  of  policy  areas. 
These include policies and instruments which fall under Development Cooperation, 
the  European 
Enlargement, 
Neighbourhood Policy, Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management, Democracy and 
Human  Rights,  and  the  External  Dimension  of  the  area  of  Freedom,  Security  and 
Justice.  

and  Association  Process, 

the  Stabilisation 

1 

As reflected in key policy documents like the European Union’s Development Policy Statement, “The 
European  Consensus”  on  development,  adopted  by  the  Council  on  22  November  2005,  published  in 
Official Journal No C 46 of 24/02/2006, and in the European Security Strategy (ESS) adopted by the 
European Council in December 2003. 

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In  recent  years  the  EU  has  developed  additional  capacity  to  support  SSR  under  its 
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), as reflected in the European Security 
Strategy.2 In  this way  European  Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) missions and 
Community  action  in  the  area  of  SSR  can  complement  each  other,  especially  in 
countries  in  crisis  or  post-crisis  situations.  Some  EU  Member  States  are  also  very 
active  in  supporting  security  sector  reform  processes  on  a  bilateral  basis.  The  need 
for  a  more  coherent  and  common  EU  concept  on  SSR  across  the  three  pillars  has, 
therefore, been raised by Member States and the Commission in order to contribute 
to more effective EU external action in this area. This concept paper is the European 
Commission’s  contribution  to  a  clearer  and  integrated  EU  policy  framework  for 
engaging in security system reform.  

2. 

RATIONALE AND OVERALL AIM 

The paper sets out principles and norms for the European Community’s engagement 
in  SSR,  based  on  current  support  in  different  countries  and  regional  settings,  the 
relevant policy frameworks under which the EC supports SSR, and the rationale for 
SSR as an important part of Community support. In this way the policy framework 
will  help  to  ensure  more  coordinated  and  strategic  approaches  to  Community 
activities falling under the different policy instruments, recognising that SSR needs 
to  be  treated  as  a  cross-cutting  issue,  spanning  the  various  strands  of  EC  external 
assistance. In addition, the concept seeks to define the Community’s role in the wider 
framework  of  EU  external  action  in  the  area  of  SSR  in  order  to  ensure 
complementarity  between  EC  activities  and  those  undertaken  by  the  EU  as  part  of 
CFSP/ESDP and by Member States bilaterally. The aim is that this concept and the 
EU Concept for ESDP support for Security Sector Reform (SSR), which was agreed 
under  the  UK  Presidency,3  will  complement  each  other  and  be  joined  within  the 
framework of an overarching EU concept for SSR. 

3. 

THE SECURITY SYSTEM AND ITS REFORM 

3.1. 

The need for security sector reform 

For  the  EC,  security  is  not  limited  to  the  territorial  security  of  the  state  or  to  the 
security of a particular regime; it includes both the external and internal security of a 
state and its people. Thus, it focuses on human security (freedom from want, freedom 
from fear and freedom to take action on one’s own behalf),4 putting the security of 
citizens at the centre and thus complementing state security. Citizens should be able 
to expect the state to be capable of maintaining peace and guaranteeing the strategic 
security  interests  of  the  country,  as  well  as  ensuring  that  their  lives,  property,  and 
political,  economic  and  social  rights  are  safeguarded.  The  State  has  to  be  able  to 
protect  citizens  from  the  threats  of  insecurity,  including  violent  conflict  and 
terrorism,  while  protecting  rights  and  institutions  from  being  undermined  by  these 
threats. This concept paper focuses on those aspects which are designed to contribute 

2 
3 
4 

Ibid. 
Council Conclusions, General Affairs and External Relations Council, 21-22 November 2005  
Human  Security  Now,  the  final  Report  of  the  Commission  on  Human  Security  (2003)  and  the 
Commission Communication on Governance and Development, COM(2003) 615 final. 

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to peace, the protection of life and limb, and to ensure the upholding of the law and 
oversight  through  the  justice  system  and  democratic  institutions  of  the  relevant 
executive bodies.  

Oversized and underpaid regular forces, irregular forces and security firms operating 
outside the law, lack of judicial independence, status and resources, lack of capacity, 
legal  competence  and  sometimes  political  will  by  parliaments 
to  ensure 
accountability of security services, human rights abuses by police and defence forces, 
a culture of state impunity and the inability to protect the population against terrorist 
acts;  these  are  some  of  the  challenges  faced  by  EU  partner  countries,  hampering 
common  efforts  to  achieve  sustainable  development.  Citizens’  rights  are  most 
vulnerable to abuse by state agents in states where there is no space for civil society 
to be effective and democracy is weak or non-existent as a result. These challenges 
also have an impact on the stability of regions and on the international community as 
a  whole..  The  military  is  only  one  instrument  for  providing  security  for  the 
population.  The  police  and  gendarmerie,  the  courts  and  the  prison  system  provide 
security by upholding law and order within the state. By guarding against abuse of 
powers  and  ensuring  that  policies  are  implemented  according  to  mandates  granted, 
democratic oversight bodies (parliaments, ombudsmen, etc.) and the judicial system 
also  contribute  to  security.  Oversight  may  also  be  provided  by  civil  society 
institutions  (civilian  review  boards,  public  complaints  commissions),  as  well  as 
informally through NGO lobbying, investigative media, etc. 

3.2. 

The security system and its reform 

Based on the OECD-DAC definition,5 the security system can be defined as all state 
institutions and other entities with a role in ensuring the security of the state and its 
people.  

Core  security  actors  including  law  enforcement  institutions:  armed  forces;  police; 
gendarmeries;  paramilitary  forces;  presidential  guards;  intelligence  services;  coast 
guards; border guards; customs authorities; reserve or local security units. 

Security  management  and  oversight  bodies:  parliament/legislature;  government/the 
executive,  including  ministries  of  defence,  internal  affairs,  foreign  affairs;  national 
security  advisory  bodies;  customary  and 
financial 
management bodies; and civil society, including the media, academia and NGOs. 

traditional  authorities; 

Justice institutions: justice ministries; prisons; criminal investigation and prosecution 
services; the judiciary (courts and tribunals), implementation justice services (bailiffs 
and  ushers),  other  customary  and  traditional  justice  systems;  human  rights 
commissions and ombudsmen; etc. 

Non-statutory security forces: liberation armies; guerrilla armies; private bodyguard 
units; private security companies; etc. 

Security  system  reform  means  transforming  the  security  system,  which  includes  all 
these actors, their roles, responsibilities and actions, working together to manage and 

5 

Security System Reform and Governance, Policy and Practice, DAC Guidelines and Reference Series 
(Paris: OECD 2004). 

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operate the system in a manner that is consistent with democratic norms and sound 
principles  of  good  governance,  and  thus  contributing  to  a  well  functioning  security 
framework.  For  the  EC,  the  objective  is  to  contribute  explicitly  to  strengthening  of 
good governance, democracy, the rule of law, the protection of human rights and the 
efficient  use  of  public  resources.  In  this  respect,  civilian  control  and  Parliamentary 
oversight are key aspects of SSR. 

4. 

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR SSR  

4.1. 

Areas of engagement 

The  European  Community  (EC)  is  engaged  in  SSR-related  support  in  over  70 
countries, through both geographical and thematic programmes.6 This includes SSR 
support  for  Eastern  Europe,  North  and  South  Caucasus  and  Central  Asia,  Western 
Balkans,  Africa,  Caribbean  and  the  Pacific,  South  Mediterranean  and  the  Middle 
East, Latin America and Asia.  

The  EC  has  supported  SSR  in  countries  and  regions  in  relatively  stable 
environments,  in  countries  undergoing  transition  and  long-term  democratisation 
processes as well as in countries in immediate post-conflict and in longer-term post-
conflict peace building and reconstruction  processes.7 This includes support for the 
reform  of  law  enforcement  institutions,  justice  institutions,  and  state  institutions 
dealing with management and oversight of the security system. There are also a large 
number  of  activities  designed  to  strengthen  civilian  control  and  democratic 
governance  of  the  public  sector  in  general  and  to  guarantee  the  respect  for  human 
rights  which  also  encompass  the  security  sector  and  thus  indirectly  contribute  to 
security  sector  reform.  Linked  to  this  is  the  EC  support  for  capacity  building  of 
regional  and  sub-regional  organisations  concerning  security-sector  related  activities 
and  reforms  in  the  area  of  peace  and  security  to  contribute  to  regional  aspects  of 
SSR. This can also have a positive impact on SSR efforts at national level. 

A  number  of  policies  and  strategies  are  relevant  to  support  in  this  area.  Although 
principles guiding support for SSR should be the same for all forms of Community 
support for SSR, approaches and methods of implementation may vary depending on 
policy  frameworks  and  country  contexts.8  Within  the  OECD/DAC,  EU  Member 
States  and  the  EC  have  helped  to  development  guidelines  for  support  for  SSR, 
Security System Reform and Governance,9 which provide an important basis for EC 
engagement in this area, in terms of norms, principles and operational guidance.  

Extension  of  Official  Development  Assistance  (ODA)  eligibility  to  the  area  of 
security,  as  agreed  at  the  OECD/DAC  High-Level  Meeting  in  March  2005,  means 
that a wider spectrum of SSR activities can be financed by development cooperation 
funds than before. This encompasses all civilian aspects of SSR, as well as activities 

6 
7 
8 
9 

See annex 2 - Areas of EC support for SSR – Regional and Country examples.  
Ibid. 
See annex 1 - EC Policy frameworks - and annex 3 concerning the programming cycle. 
Security System Reform and Governance, Policy and Practice, DAC Guidelines and Reference Series 
(2004).  

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in relation to democratic and civilian control of the military parts of SSR, including 
financial and administrative management of defence issues.10  

EC support is provided in close cooperation with national, regional and international 
actors, including the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE, to ensure sustainable 
and nationally owned processes of change. Political buy-in by national stakeholders 
is of central importance to ensure a sustainable reform process. National ownership 
of  the  overall  reform  process  should  therefore  always  be  ensured,  together  with 
engagement  by  the  different  national  and  regional  stakeholders.  Political  dialogue 
with  third  countries  is  an  important  instrument  for  helping  the  EU  and  partner 
countries  to  agree  on  common  objectives  and  priorities  for  action.  In  addition, 
implementation of the OECD/DAC principles for good international engagement in 
fragile states,11 by both the Community and the Member States, could further help to 
consolidate an enabling framework for support for SSR in such country situations.  

4.2. 

Principles guiding EC support for SSR12 

Security system reform processes should be: 

•  nationally/regionally  owned  reform  processes  designed  to  strengthen  good 
governance, democratic norms, the rule of law and the respect for human rights, in 
line with internationally agreed norms;13  

•  addressing the core requirements of a well functioning security system, including 
the development of a nationally owned concept of security, well defined policies 
and good governance of security institutions, while ensuring that any development 
of  professional  security  forces  leads  them  to  be  both  accountable  to  the  civil 
authorities and capable of carrying out the operational tasks assigned to them; 

•  seen as a framework for addressing diverse security challenges facing states and 
their populations, based on a gender-sensitive multi-sector approach, and targeting 
reform  needs  in  different  key  sectors.  This  includes  separating  tasks  between 
different services and institutions and taking into account the role of civil society 
and  other  non-state  structures  of  governance,  for  example,  traditional  justice 
systems  in  some  societies,  in  the  development  and  implementation  of  national 
SSR;  

10 

11 

12 

13 

Technical  cooperation  provided  to  parliament,  government  ministries,  law  enforcement  agencies  and 
the judiciary to assist, review and reform the security system and thus improve democratic governance 
and civilian control; technical cooperation provided to governments to improve civilian oversight and 
democratic  control  of  budgeting,  management,  accountability  and  auditing  of  security  expenditure, 
including military budgets, as part of a public expenditure management programme; assistance to civil 
society to enhance its competence and capacity to scrutinise the security system so that it is managed in 
accordance with democratic norms and principles of accountability, transparency and good governance. 
Direct support for the military and non-statutory security forces is not included. 
The OECD/DAC High-Level Meeting of Development Ministers and Heads of Agencies agreed on 3 
March 2005 that the principles drafted by the OECD/DAC Fragile States Group on “good international 
engagement  in  fragile  states,”  by  both  development  and  security  stakeholders,  should  be  piloted  in  9 
fragile states until the end of 2006 and be considered for adoption by the HLM in 2007. 
These are based on the principles outlined in the OECD/DAC Guidelines: Security System Reform and 
Governance, Policy and Practice, DAC Guidelines and Reference Series (Paris: OECD 2004). 
See annex 4. 

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•  based on the same principles of accountability and transparency that apply across 
the public sector, in particular improved governance through greater civilian and 
parliamentary oversight of security processes; 

•  based  on  political  dialogue  with  each  partner  country,  addressing  human  rights, 
development  and  security  concerns,  and  be  carried  out  in  synergy  with  other 
instruments.  

4.3. 

The particular role and strength of EC support for SSR  

The EC aims to provide added value in support of SSR on the basis of the following 
factors: 

•  The  Commission’s  supranational  nature  and  its  experience  in  promoting 
democracy,  human  rights  and  nation-building,  including  in  very  difficult 
situations,  provides  it  with  the  ability  to  conduct  activities  which  might  not  be 
possible for other actors, including bilateral donors. 

•  The global reach of the EC enables the Commission to act in almost any region of 
the world, if considered necessary, and to respond to a wide variety of situations. 

•  Long-term  presence  on  the  ground,  through  the  EC  Delegations,  means  that  the 
EC  can  lend  long-term  support  to  both  the  national  dialogue  on  SSR  and  to 
different aspects of the SSR process. 

taking 

•  The  commitment  to  policy  coherence  for  development,  in  particular  where  EC 
policies  have a  significant  impact  on  developing countries. A coherent approach 
inter-linkages  between  security, 
the  close 
to  SSR, 
development and governance, including democratic principles, rule of law, human 
rights  and  institutional  capacity  building,  is  crucial  for  successful  reform  and 
effective  use  of  scarce  financial  resources,  not  only  at  Community  and  Member 
States level, but also at partner country level. 

into  account 

•  The  vast  array  of  instruments  -  EC  support  for  SSR  forms  part  of  its  regular 
external  assistance  and  EU  political  dialogue.  The  potential  to  coordinate  EC 
action  through  its  spectrum  of  policy  instruments  and  financial  instruments  is  a 
critical advantage in security system reform. 

•  The  EC  can  draw  on  the  wide  variety  of  experiences  of  SSR  among  Member 
States. In most of the new Member States, there has been comprehensive reform 
of  the  security  sector  in  the  context  of  regime  change  and  the  establishment  of 
democratic institutions and the rule of law. 

•  The  potential  to  coordinate  and  to  facilitate  harmonisation  of  EC  actions  in 
transitional  situations  by  promoting  linkages  after  a  crisis  to  recovery  and  long-
term  development,  by  addressing  root  causes  of  conflict  and  by  ensuring 
coordination  and  complementarity  with  action  carried  out  by  the  EU  in  the 
framework  of  the  CFSP/ESDP,  by  Member  States,  by  other  regional  and 
multilateral  organisations  and  by  local  civil  society,  is  a  critical  advantage  in 
security  system  reform.  This  can  reinforce  the  reform  process  in  post-conflict 
situations and should be guided by integrated transition strategies, including clear 

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links  between  SSR  support  and  support 
Demobilisation and Reintegration of former combatants (DDR). 

in 

the  area  of  Disarmament, 

5. 

EU SUPPORT FOR SSR IN THE FUTURE 

5.1. 

EC perspectives on how to strengthen the overall EU support for SSR 

including 

Security sector reform is an integral part of EU enlargement, as regards pre-accession 
countries,  and  is  an  important  part  of  development  cooperation  and  external 
assistance to third countries. The new instruments for external assistance, which are 
all  relevant  to  EC  SSR  support,  will  enable  the  Community  to  increase  its  support 
still further.14 The Community needs to focus more clearly on the governance aspects 
of  SSR, 
judicial 
independence  and  media  freedom,  and  take  a  more  holistic  approach  to  SSR  by 
engaging  in  coordinated  support  for  the  different  sectors  of  the  SSR  process.  This 
will contribute to better implementation of EC support in this area and result in more 
coordinated and comprehensive support from the EU as a whole. In order to achieve 
this,  SSR  needs  to  be  more  clearly  integrated  into  Country  and  Regional  Strategy 
Papers  and  action  plans  as  well  as  into  other  forms  of  cooperation  with  partner 
countries.  

the  strengthening  of  parliamentary  oversight, 

While  the  EU’s  medium  to  long-term  engagement  in  SSR  needs  to  be  ensured 
through Community programmes and Member State bilateral support, more short to 
medium-term engagement can kick-start and complement long-term instruments. The 
Stability Instrument will boost the capacity of the Community to respond rapidly and 
engage more flexibly in the short term in different parts of the world. ESDP missions 
are  often  involved  in  supporting  the  early  stages  of  SSR  in  crisis  or  post-crisis 
situations and in initiating new areas of EU support, especially in areas such as core 
military and intelligence reform. To consolidate EU support for SSR, the EU needs 
to ensure greater synergy between ongoing Community and Member State bilateral 
support,  on  the  one  hand,  and  more  effective  coordination  between  missions 
undertaken in the framework of ESDP and Community and Member State action, on 
the other.  

It  is  important  for  the  EU  as  a  whole  to  take  a  comprehensive  and  pragmatic 
approach  to  the  reform  process  in  order  to  provide  timely,  well  coordinated  and 
relevant support throughout the overall process and its different parts. Joint strategic 
analyses and needs assessments15 of the overall process and comprehensive planning, 
where  applicable,  will  ensure  more  coherent  and  coordinated  action.  Effective 
support needs exchanges of expertise and a broader base of experts in the Member 
States who can be deployed in the different aspects of SSR.  

14 

15 

For example, the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument offers new approaches to cross-
border cooperation and the capacity to support a wide range of SSR activities. Under the Instrument for 
Pre-accession Assistance, beneficiary countries will be supported in their efforts to undertake reforms, 
in  particular  concerning  their  legal  systems,  police,  prosecution,  judiciary  and  penitentiary  systems, 
customs and border controls. Cross-border cooperation will also help to prevent and combat common 
security threats in border areas.  
EC, CFSP/ESDP and MS 

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Based on political dialogue with the partner country, the EU needs to ensure that its 
support matches the needs and wishes of national stakeholders and is provided within 
the  political  context  of  the  overall  reform process. Civil society action, without the 
prior agreement of governments, can also contribute to improvements in oversight of 
the  security  sector.  In  addition,  an  analysis  should  be  made  concerning  what  EU 
action  would  be  most  appropriate  for  any  given  context,  complementing  existing 
programmes  and  adding  value  in  terms  of  international  support  for  SSR. 
Comprehensive implementation guidelines would be an important next step. 

EU  action  also  needs  to  be  coordinated  with  the  work  of  other  external  actors. 
Implementation  frameworks  for  SSR 
the  active 
participation of the Commission, Member States and other donors (e.g. Canada, US, 
Japan,  Norway  and  Switzerland),  could  improve  donor  coordination  and  enable 
donors to complement each others’ support.  

the  OECD/DAC,  with 

in 

In  promoting  effective  multilateralism,  close  coordination  and  cooperation  with  the 
UN  and  other  international  organisations  should  always  be  sought,  including  with 
regional  and  sub-regional  organisations,  such  as  the  OSCE  and  the  African  Union, 
and  with  civil  society.  This  reflects  the  fact  that  they  are  important  partners  and 
stakeholders for the EU in the development and implementation of SSR approaches 
and programmes. Capacity building at regional and sub-regional level will therefore 
also be an important focus in the future for SSR support. 

5.2. 

Recommendation  to  strengthen  the  EC  contribution  to  overall  EU  support  for 
SSR 

Strengthening policy and programming dialogue  

•  Ensuring  a  more  effective  and  holistic  policy  and  programming  dialogue  with 
stakeholders in partner countries by bringing international standards on SSR16 and 
the  principles  of  EC  support  to  the  policy  dialogue  and  agreeing  on  objectives, 
priorities and follow-up mechanisms with governments and Non-State Actors, in 
an  effort  to  address  the  capacity  and  performance  of  public  institutions  more 
effectively. EC assistance may be agreed in countries where the quality of security 
sector governance is deteriorating.  

Integrating SSR in Country (CSP) and Regional (RSP) Strategy Papers, Action Plans 
and programming tools  

•  Integrating  SSR  in  CSPs,  RSPs  and  Action  Plans,  based  on  governance  and 
conflict analyses and specific security sector analyses. This will make it easier for 
the EC to take a holistic approach to SSR. At the same time, flexibility needs to be 
ensured  to  enable  the  EC  to  adjust  its  programming  to  circumstances  on  the 
ground. Coordination between EC and Member States bilateral CSPs can enhance 
the planning of overall EU efforts in this area. 

16 

See annex 4. 

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Ensuring coordinated planning  

•  A  coordinated  planning  approach  across  the  three-pillar  structure,  when 

applicable, will ensure better coherence of all EU actions.  

•  Needs assessments and the use of assessment and planning teams to carry out fact-
finding missions can assist in the planning of (additional) EC activities and wider 
EU  action.  Joint  missions  with  the  Council  Secretariat  and/or  Member  States 
should also be considered. 

Strengthening overall implementation of EU support 

•  Work  towards  strengthening  coordination  and  complementarity  between  EU 
actions by the EC, the EU in the framework of CFSP/ESDP and Member States’ 
bilateral programmes at headquarters and field level. 

•  Work  towards  enabling  more  joint  implementation  between  the  Community,  the 

Member States and EU action undertaken in the framework of CFSP/ESDP. 

Developing tools for planning and implementation 

•  Developing  tools  for  comprehensive  SSR  analyses  as  well  as  operational 
guidelines for implementing SSR as a follow-up to this concept can assist in the 
overall  assessment,  programming  and  implementation  of  EU/EC  support  in  the 
field. 

Expanding the expertise and pool of experts for field missions and programmes 

•  Contributing to the development of institutional cooperation between the relevant 
institutions in the Member States and the Commission to respond to the need to 
deploy numerous and qualified experts for short, medium and long-term activities 
and to ensure coherence in profiles, training and equipment for such experts due 
to  be  seconded  abroad,  within  the  framework  of  specific  SSR  programmes. 
Appropriate modalities for effective mobilisation  of  human  resources need  to be 
identified. 

Developing SSR-specific training for the mainstreaming of SSR 

•  For the EU to take a more holistic and comprehensive approach to SSR, specific 
training should be developed for SSR to help mainstream SSR into programming 
and to broaden expertise across EU and Member States institutions. 

Prioritising SSR under the new Financial Instruments 

•  Support  for  SSR  should,  where  relevant,  be  prioritised  under  the  new  Financial 
Instruments  by  taking  a  comprehensive  and  holistic  approach  to  SSR,  including 
the  instruments  for  Pre-Accession  Assistance,  European  Neighbourhood  and 
Partnership, Development Cooperation and Economic Cooperation, and Stability. 
The  Stability  Instrument  could  have  an  important  role  in  ensuring  rapid  and 
flexible support for critical phases of the reform process, and complementing both 
long-term assistance programmes and other short-term instruments. 

EN 

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   EN 

 
Strengthening cooperation with international partners  

•  Strengthening cooperation with regional and multilateral organisations, including 
the  UN,  OECD,  Council  of  Europe,  OSCE  and  AU,  in  training,  information 
sharing  on  best  practice  and  more  coordinated  planning  and  implementation  of 
SSR  support.  Cooperation  should  also  be  strengthened  with  civil  society 
organisations and other donors at field level with a view to improve the efficiency 
of EU support in the area of SSR.  

EN 

12 

   EN