Towards effective judicial protection for human rights violations in CSDP missions and operations

Under the Common Security and Defence Policy, the European Union and its Member States conduct over 20 military and civilian peace operations in Europe, the Middle East, and the African continent. Under EU law, CSDP missions and operations are bound, according to Article 21 TEU and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, to respect human rights. In practice, there is a discrepancy between, on the one hand, the interference of the activities conducted by these missions and operations with human rights and, on the other hand, the scope of judicial review applicable to this policy area.  

This PhD project explores existing and potential pathways to better exploit the current system of legal remedies before EU and national courts in the Union legal order in view of enhancing the guarantee of effective judicial protection in the context of CSDP missions and operations.