EU Missions and Secessionist Conflicts

Abstract

The European Union has deployed missions, mostly via the ESDP, in separatist conflicts - from Macedonia to Aceh (Indonesia) and from Kosovo to Georgia or Moldova - as one of the instruments with which to apply its policies in these areas. Except in the case of Kosovo, the EU's activity in these cases, tied to the principle of territorial integrity, has faced a dilemma relating to the impact of its peace missions: non-recognition and engagement. This policy combines the non-recognition of the secessionist entities with the desire to engage with them in a variety of relationships. This work asks whether the EU has ended up contributing to these secessionist conflicts reaching deadlock.