Finland as an actor in the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

The European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) covers all areas of the Union's external relations and security policy. Its objective is to safeguard the Union's common values and to strengthen the security of the Union.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms Catherine Ashton, Brussels, 25 April 2010 (Photo: Council of the European Union)

Finland's Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, press briefing, in Helsinki 2009 (Photo: MFA)

Union and Member States

The Union pursues such common values as preservation of peace and strengthening of international security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, promotion of international cooperation, and consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Member States are required that they actively and unreservedly, in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity, support the Union's external and security policy and refrain from any action which is contrary to the interests of the Union or likely to impair its effectiveness as a cohesive force in international relations.

European Council

The Member States' heads of state and government meet in the European Council. It defines the principles of and general guidelines for the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) also in matters that play a role in defence policy. In addition, the European Council can decide about common strategies to be implemented by the Union in areas where the Member States have major common interests.