European Security and Defence College

SUMMARY OF:

Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 establishing a European Security and Defence College

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

The decision sets up the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), which aims to develop and promote a common understanding among civilians and military personnel of the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) of the European Union (EU) through training and education activities.

KEY POINTS

Objectives

The ESDC has a number of objectives, including:

further enhancing the common European security and defence culture within the EU and promoting the principles set out in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union;
promoting a better understanding of CSDP as an essential part of CFSP;
providing EU Member States’ administrations with people who are familiar with EU policies, institutions and procedures in the CSDP field;
providing CSDP missions and operations personnel with a common understanding of the functioning principles and a sense of common European identity;
providing training and education that meet the needs of CSDP missions and operations;
supporting EU partnerships in the field of CSDP, in particular with those countries participating in CSDP missions;
supporting civilian crisis management — including in the field of conflict prevention — and establishing or preserving the conditions necessary for sustainable development;
promoting the European initiative for the exchange of young officers;
helping to promote professional relations and contacts among the participants.

Tasks of the ESDC

The main task of the ESDC is to provide training and education. The decision sets out a number of specific tasks, including:

basic- and advanced-level courses that promote a generic understanding of CFSP and CSDP;
leadership courses;
courses that directly support CSDP missions and operations, including pre‐deployment and in-mission / in-operation training and education;
courses that support EU partnerships and the countries participating in CSDP missions and operations;
modules that support civilian and military training and education in the field of CSDP;
CSDP courses, seminars, programmes and conferences for specialised audiences;
common modules that run under the European initiative for the exchange of young officers, which was inspired by the Erasmus+ programme;
cyber awareness and advanced courses, including in support of CSDP missions and operations;
courses and seminars that support PhD-level research through the exchange of best practices and experience.

Network

The ESDC is organised as a network of various educational institutions — including those dealing with security and defence policies within the EU, as identified by the Member States — and the European Union Institute for Security Studies. The ESDC is closely linked with several EU institutions and agencies, including:

the European Border and Coast Guard Agency — Regulation (EU) 2019/1896, see summary;
the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) — Regulation (EU) 2016/794, see summary;
the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training — Regulation (EU) 2015/2219, see summary;
the European Defence Agency — Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835, see summary;
the European Union Satellite Centre — Decision 2014/401/CFSP, see summary..

The ESDC is under the overall responsibility of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 19 October 2020.
Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 repeals Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2382.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

European Security and Defence College (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 of 19 October 2020 establishing a European Security and Defence College, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2016/2382 (OJ L 348, 20.10.2020, pp. 1–14).

Successive amendments to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.