Among external and internal security

disconnections and derivatives of the nexus PCSD-ELSJ

Abstract

This article examines the nexus between the European Union’s (EU) Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ), exploring the evolution of the narratives and practices underpinning this interconnection. The investigation is
grounded in the conceptual framework of security
governance, which emphasises the density of interactions among actors within spaces defined by geography, institutionalisation, and normative authority. Through a qualitative thematic analysis of official EU documents and case studies of Operation Sophia and the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, the article identifies cooperative formats, institutional developments, and persistent challenges to coordination between the two domains. The findings reveal a tendency for CSDP missions to be subordinated to logics of collective internal security, particularly with regard to border control, irregular migration, and terrorism. Despite progress in training, information-sharing, and the joint use of resources, political,
legal, and operational barriers continue to undermine the effectiveness of cooperation. The article concludes that, in a context of hybrid threats and geopolitical instability, it is imperative to strengthen coordination mechanisms and to formulate a specific strategy for the CSDP–AFSJ nexus, accompanied by action plans and progress reports,
thereby ensuring transparency, effectiveness, and
democratic oversight.