自歐盟於2003年決議派遣境外任務團迄今,已有24個歐盟任務團於非洲、中東、東南亞、東南歐等地執行衝突預防、危機處理和衝突後重建的工作;以國家或地區來說,共有15個國家或地區受到歐盟民事或軍事任務團的協助。此一數目雖然難以和接受歐盟經濟援助的國家數目相比較,但已可看出藉由共同安全暨防衛政策和境外任務團,歐盟已可扮演一個重要的全球性行為者。共同安全暨防衛政策乃是歐盟為能具備自主行動能力,以解決各式衝突問題的重要措施。而此一措施所具備的民事和軍事能力,讓歐盟成為一個有別於傳統「軍事強權」之「具特殊形式的世界強權」。雖是如此,境外任務團迄今為止的成效仍有待檢驗;尤其是軍事任務團的實際成效,更招受不少批評。歐盟建構軍事能力往往被看做是歐盟的軍事化。事實上,歐盟的困擾並非在於做得太多,毋寧是政策目標無法達成,必須一再修改。2009年12月生效的里斯本條約為歐盟的外交、安全和防衛政策注入新的動力,提供較為穩固的法律與政治基礎。但此次歐盟是否能達成既定目標,又一次地端視會員國的意願和作為。
Since the Eruropean Union decided to send its first out-of-area mission in 2003, there have benn 24 missions undertaken regarding the tasks of conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-confict reconstruction in Africa, Middle East, South East Asia and South East Europe. In all, 15 countries and regions have received the assistance from EU's civil and military mission. Although that number is much fewer than the countries which receive economic and finacial support from EU, the EU already plays an global role for its Common Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), and Civil and Minlitary Mission.The ESDP is an important measure to build its autonomous action abilities and to solve diverse conflicts. Measures encompassing civil and military capabilities make the EU unlike the traditional 'Military Power', but has it a ”world power of special kind.” Nonetheless, different opinions arise about the effects of the missions so far; particularly the actual results of the certain military missions. The construction of EU's military capabilities is frequently considered militarization of the EU. In fact, the problem that the EU confronts is not that it does too much, but that it can not achieve its goals. The Lisbon treaty, entered into force from December 2009, gives new impetus to EU's foreign, security and defence policy, and provides solid legal and political underpinnings. But this time, whether or not the EU achieves its goals depends once again on the action and political will of its member states.