4 December 1998: Franco-British summit in St Malo gives green light for EU to develop “capacity for autonomous action, backed up by credible military force”

3-4 June 1999:Cologne EU summit launches ESDP, appoints Javier Solana as first high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy

10-11 December 1999:Helsinki summit sets goal for EU to maintain up to 60,000 troops able to deploy for missions within 60 days

20 November 2000:First EU capabilities commitment conference

7-9 December 2000:Operational role of Western European Union transferred to EU

22 January 2001: ESDP institutions – Political and Security Committee, Military Committee and Military Staff – set up

16 December 2002:‘Berlin Plus’ agreement granting EU access to NATO planning, command and other facilities

1 January 2003:Start of EU police mission in Bosnia, first ESDP operation

31 March 2003: First EU military mission, taking over from NATO in Macedonia

12 June 2003:Operation Artemis in Eastern Congo, first EU military operation outside Europe, first without NATO support

12 December 2003: EU leaders approve European security strategy ‘A secure Europe in a better world’

18 February 2004: France and Britain propose creation of EU battle groups’ - rapid reaction units of around 1,500 troops

12 July 2004: Formation of European Defence Agency

17 July 2004:First EU rule of law mission to train judiciary in Georgia

2 December 2004:Launch of EUFOR Althea, replacing NATO peacekeepers in Bosnia

17 December 2004:EU defence ministers agree to create European gendarme force

2005-2006:EU launches missions in Iraq, Congo, Sudan, Indonesia, Moldova and the Palestinian Territories

30 May 2007:EU launches police training mission in Afghanistan

15 October 2007: EU decides to launch major military mission to protect refugees in Chad and the Central African Republic

16 February 2008: EULEX mission for Kosovo launched

28 June 2008: Establishment of European Security and Defence College

15 September 2008: EU agrees to send monitoring mission to Georgia after ceasefire ends Georgia-Russia war

8 December 2008: EU agrees to launch Atalanta anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia

11 December 2008:EU leaders approve review of European security strategy

11 March 2009: France announces return to NATO military structure