Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal

The Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal (named the European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal prior to 2009) is an international military decoration awarded to individuals, both military and civilian, who have served with CSDP missions. Since the 1990s the European Union has taken a greater role in military missions both in Europe and abroad. These actions were taken under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), which is implemented by the European Union Military Staff, a department of the EU. To recognize service in these missions the EU authorized the creation of a medal with a common obverse and reverse, to which clasps featuring the missions' name are attached to the ribbon bar.[4]

Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal
Common obverse and reverse of the medal
TypeService Medal
Awarded forAt least 30 days of service for each mission
Presented by European Union
EligibilityCivilian and military members of CSDP missions
MottoPro Pace Unum (Together For Peace)
StatusCurrently awarded
Established1 January 2003[1]
First awarded2004

CSDP ALTHEA Operations medal ribbon bar

CSDP ALTHEA Staff medal ribbon bar[2]

CSDP EUTM Mali Medal for Extraordinary Meritorious Service[3]
Precedence
Next (higher)Varies by country
Next (lower)Varies by country
CSDP service medal of Operation Sophia

Appearance

edit

The medal is 36 mm (1½") in diameter, made of a silver colored metal. All versions share a common design. The obverse of the medal is plain except for a circle of twelve five pointed stars around the outside edge of the medal. The reverse contains the Latin phrase, Pro Pace Unum, meaning "United for Peace".[4] The words are arranged in three lines one word above the other in the center of the medal. The medal is suspended from a 36 mm (1½") ribbon in EU blue with either a wide gold center stripe for headquarters and combat forces, or a wide white stripe for planning and support. Each operation is identified with a different clasp with the name of the operation worn on the ribbon of the medal. A miniature version is worn on the ribbon bar, when medals are not worn.

Ribbons and clasps

edit

Precedence

edit

Some orders of precedence are as follows:

Country Preceding Following
  Canada
Order of precedence[6]
International Force East Timor Medal Polar Medal
  Ireland
Order of seniority[7]
European Union Monitoring Mission Medal International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia Medal
  Spain
Order of precedence[8]
Western European Union Medal UNAVEM Medal
  The Netherlands
Order of precedence[9]
European Community Monitor Mission Medal Baltic Air Policing Medal
  New Zealand
Order of precedence[10]
NATO Medal for the Non-Article 5 ISAF Operation in Afghanistan New Zealand General Service Medal 2002 (Timor-Leste)
  United Kingdom
Order of precedence[2]
Western European Union Medal Commonwealth realms orders and decorations

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal (ESDP)". National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 2008-04-29. Archived from the original on 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  2. ^ a b "HONOURS AND AWARDS IN THE ARMED FORCES" (PDF). JSP 761. Ministry of Defence: 8A–10. May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-08-02. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  3. ^ "EU honours Czech soldier with highest award". Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b McCreery, Christopher (2005). The Canadian honours system. The Dundurn Group. pp. 246–. ISBN 1-55002-554-6.
  5. ^ "EUPOL Proxima/FYROM". EU Commons Security and Defence Policy. Archived from the original on 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  6. ^ "European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal Order". Statutory Instrument 2004-162. Department of Justice Canada. 2004-12-29. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  7. ^ "Medals of the Irish Defence Forces" (PDF). Irish Defence Forces. October 2010. p. 99. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  8. ^ Barrio, Antonio Prieto (2011-06-05). "Spanish Ribbon Chart". Colecciones Militares. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  9. ^ "Besluit draagvolgorde onderscheidingen". Staatscourant van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (in Dutch). Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  10. ^ "THE WEARING OF MEDALS IN NEW ZEALAND TABLE – A GUIDE TO THE CORRECT ORDER OF WEAR". New Zealand Defence Force. 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
edit