Whether through concepts of crisis resolution, a comprehensive approach,⁽¹⁾ or an effects-based approach to operations (EBAO) among many others, most of the main actors in crisis management are now making efforts to find innovative solutions offering a more effective, more rapid and more stable way to resolve current conflicts. The experience acquired, notably in the Balkans and in Afghanistan, demonstrates that the challenges faced by the modern world require a new approach on the part of the international community, employing a wide range of civil and military instruments while respecting the responsibilities and freedom of decision of the actors involved.

However, even though it seems to be generally accepted that civil and military actions constitute two inseparable aspects of crisis resolution, many factors, including the diversity of the actors concerned and the complexity of the dialogue between these actors and the military force, make this approach particularly difficult, especially in a multinational context.

In this setting, attempting to find solutions, an interministerial experiment entitled Multinational Experiment 5 is under way. Its objectives are to identify areas of collaboration and to establish processes for joint work in crisis resolution. This experiment is organised on the politico-strategic and operational levels and will assist the participating nations, including France, to improve the way in which they analyse, plan, conduct and evaluate crisis response operations.