European Security and Defence College

 

SUMMARY OF:

Decision (CFSP) 2016/2382 establishing a European Security and Defence College

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

• It establishes the European Security and Defence College (ESDC).
• It describes its structure, its role, its tasks and how it is funded.
• It repeals Decision 2013/189/CFSP (see summary on European Security and Defence College [ESDC]).

KEY POINTS

The ESDC comprises a network of national institutes, colleges, academies and institutions across the EU dealing with security and defence policy issues, as well as the EU Institute for Security Studies.

It works under the overall responsibility of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

It was first established in July 2005.

The ESDC’s main objectives are to:

• enhance the common security and defence culture within the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and to further the principles laid down in Article 21(1) of the Treaty on European Union outside the EU;
• promote
  • a better understanding of CSDP as an essential part of the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP)
  • the European Initiative for the Exchange of Military Young Officers
  • professional relations and contacts among training participants;
• support
  • EU partnerships in the field of security and defence, in particular partnerships with those countries participating in CSDP missions
  • civilian crisis management, including in the field of conflict resolution, and establishing or preserving the conditions necessary for sustainable development;
• provide
  • CSDP mission and operation personnel with a common understanding of the functioning principles of missions and operations, as well as a sense of common European identity
  • training and education in response to the needs of CSDP missions and operations
  • EU institutions and bodies with knowledgeable personnel able to work efficiently on all CSDP and CFSP matters
  • EU countries’ administrations and staff with knowledgeable personnel familiar with EU policies, institutions and procedures in the field of CFSP.

The ESDC’s main tasks are to organise and conduct training and education activities in the area of CSDP. These include:

• basic and advanced level courses promoting understanding of the CSDP and CFSP;
• courses developing leadership;
• courses directly supporting CSDP missions and operations;
• courses supporting EU partnerships and countries participating in CSDP missions and operations;
• modules supporting civilian and military training and education in the field of CSDP and CFSP;
• courses for specialised audiences or with a specific focus;
• common modules run under the European Initiative for the Exchange of Military Young Officers.

Other ESDC activities include:

• developing e-learning systems;
• producing training and educational material;
• supporting exchange programmes between training and educational institutes; and
• managing training in the field of conflict prevention and civilian crisis management.

The ESDC has the following structure:

• 1.

  Steering committee: comprising representatives from EU countries, it is responsible for the overall coordination and direction of the ESDC’s activities.

• 2.

  Executive academic board: mainly comprising senior representatives from civilian, diplomatic, police and military institutes. It is responsible for the quality and coherence of the ESDC training activities.

• 3.

  Head of the ESDC: responsible for organising and managing ESDC training activities and for the financial and administrative management of the ESDC.

• 4.

  ESDC secretariat: assists the Head of the ESDC in fulfilling his/her tasks.

The ESDC staff consists of staff seconded to the ESDC by EU institutions, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and EU agencies, as well as national experts seconded by EU countries. The EEAS provides logistical support to the Secretariat, which is co-located with the EEAS.

Budget

The ESDC receives an annual contribution from the EU’s budget as well as contributions in kind to ESDC training activities. Some additional funding comes from EU countries and institutes or other donors.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2017.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2382 of 21 December 2016 establishing a European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and repealing Decision 2013/189/CFSP (OJ L 352, 23.12.2016, pp. 60-73)

Subsequent amendments to Decision (CFSP) 2016/2382 have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union — Title V — General provisions on the Union’s external action and specific provisions on the common foreign and security policy — Chapter 1 — General provisions on the Union’s external action — Article 21 (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 28-29)

Council Decision 2013/189/CFSP of 22 April 2013 establishing a European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and repealing Joint Action 2008/550/CFSP (OJ L 112, 24.4.2013, pp. 22-29)

See consolidated version.

last update 04.10.2018