The Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal (or 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.
The The Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal Design
The medal is 36 mm 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”.
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 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.
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.
