Description
This paper analyses the nexus between the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ) of the European Union (EU), exploring the evolution of the narratives and practices that underpin this interconnection. The research is grounded in the conceptual framework of security governance, which emphasises the density of interactions among actors operating within spaces defined by geography, institutionalisation, and normative authority. Through a qualitative thematic analysis of official EU documents, alongside case studies of Operation Sophia and the EUAM Ukraine mission, the article identifies cooperative formats, institutional developments, and persistent challenges to coordination between the two domains. The findings reveal a tendency to subordinate CSDP missions to logics of collective internal security, particularly in relation to border control, irregular migration, and counter-terrorism. Despite progress in training, information-sharing, and the use of shared resources, political, legal, and operational barriers continue to undermine effective cooperation. The article concludes that, in a context of hybrid threats and geopolitical instability, it is imperative to strengthen coordination mechanisms and develop a dedicated strategy for the CSDP–AFSJ nexus, accompanied by action plans and progress reports, to ensure transparency, effectiveness, and democratic accountability.