High Representative Catherine Ashton met the EU heads of mission of the civilian Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions on 29 June 2010. The High Representative and the heads of mission discussed the achievements and challenges of the CSDP missions engaged in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Georgia, Iraq and in the Balkans. Ms Ashton commended the heads of mission for their important work performed in increasingly complex environments and emphasised that the CSDP missions continue to be a major priority for the EU.