Leadership at all levels is needed to ensure that good intentions and policy commitments to gender inclusiveness in the security forces translate into concrete changes for women serving in, or interacting with, the military and police.

Yesterday the EU adopted the European Peace Facility, an off-budget fund of approximately €5 billion for the period 2021-2027. The facility will allow the EU, for the first time, to complement the activities of its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations in host countries with assistance measures - including the supply of lethal weaponry. Although this initiative might give the EU more flexibility, autonomy and leverage, there are lots of counterproductive risks.