Since 1999, the European Union has strived to develop a more holistic foreign policy apparatus. The EU has always prided itself on its effective use of `soft power' means of achieving foreign policy goals; but strife in the Balkans made clear the need for `hard power' options as well. This paper examines the development of the EU's ability to conduct military operations in crisis situations. It looks at the foreign policy goals set forth in the 2003 European Security Strategy and what steps the EU has taken to attain them from a military standpoint. The potential benefits of the Permanent Structured Cooperation clause in the Treaty of Lisbon are addressed. As are the limitations placed on any potential CSDP military operation due to the lack of a unified command and control infrastructure in the EU
