Women, Peace and Security in EU Interventions: Analysing EULEX and Operation Irini

This article examines the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the practice of EU-led missions: the EULEX Kosovo and the EUNAVFOR MED IRINI. It relies on qualitative research methods for analysing four elements (mandate, operational environment, in-theatre gender expertize, and gender mainstreaming). This article highlights that the same institutional approach might lead to fundamentally different results. The distinct natures of the missions point towards different EU roles in gender mainstreaming, which can be either foundational elements, such as in the case of EULEX Kosovo, or complementary, as in a maritime military operation with limited implementation opportunities.