CONTACT

Cooperation between the Academy and the European Security and Defence College

 

On November 3rd, 2017, the Academy became full member of the European Security and Defence College network and, since then, participated in the meetings as a regular member of the Executive Academic Board. Moreover, it has an active role in its seven configurations as follows:

Military Erasmus Implementation Group

Since 2008, the ESDC leads the European initiative for the exchange of young officers inspired by Erasmus. Based on the ERASMUS+ model, the initiative's main objective is to instil in young European officers a common security and defence culture and thus make the armed forces 100% interoperable. Military, Naval, Air, Technical and Medical Universities and Academies from EU member states are working to achieve this ambitious goal.

Coordinator of the program at European level from 2014 to 2020 and from 2022 to 2026 National Guard Senior Officers successfully applied and took over, as seconded national experts.

EU Military Secondary Schools Forum

On the 19th of October 2019, the European Union Military Secondary School Forum (EUMSSF) was established to promote the common European values and common European teaching to European pupils. On the 5th of September 2020, the ESDC Executive Academic Board decided to convert the Forum into a European Security and Defence College configuration.

Cyprus has chaired the Forum with Lt. Colonel Symeon Zambas since its inception.

Executive Academic Board Cyber

The successful implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy is increasingly dependent on the availability and access to secure cyberspace. Moving in this direction, the 27 Member States on the Steering Committee tasked the college with creating a Cyber Education, Training, Evaluation and Exercise (ETEE) Platform. The overall objective of the platform is to address training of civil and military personnel in the Cyber domain and to include CSDP requirements in this training. The platform deals with all areas of Cyber Security such as cybercrime, network information security, cyber defence and foreign relations. Professor Dr Stavros Stavrou of the Open University of Cyprus chairs the Executive Academic Board Cyber.

European Doctoral School on CSDP

The European Doctoral School for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is an initiative launched in 2017 by voluntary institutions and the European Security and Defence College to develop a range of training and support for doctoral research on CSDP in the EU.

It aims to develop a critical mass of scientific and academic expertise that brings together supervisors and mentors and promotes the exchange of knowledge, skills and competencies on European security and defence issues, intending to support PhD-level research reflected in the CSDP. It offers a specialised training program complementary to the courses organised by the institutions of its network in their doctoral study programs and supports interdisciplinary doctoral research with relevant European training and environments in the following areas: (a) Cyberspace, new technologies and security within the framework of the CSDP, (b) CSDP Critical Infrastructure, Personnel and Logistics, (c) Defence Industry and CSDP Capabilities, (d) CSDP Partner Capacity Building and External Relations, (e) History, Conflict Studies, Concepts, Values and CSDP ethics, (f) Defence finance, funding, education, training and leadership within the CSDP and (g) Governance, management, decision-making and development for the CSDP.

The 1st Summer University of the European Doctoral School on CSDP was established in Brussels on July 2019, on an annual basis. The first Director was a Senior Officer of the National Guard.

Security Sector Reform (SSR)

The Executive Academic Board for Security Sector Reform (SSR) was established in response to the request to enhance its expertise through a training mechanism within the European Union. It aims to optimise training coordination and coherence. The group was established in 2013 to bring together European Security and Defence College network members who offer training and expertise in the field of SSR. It works closely with the European Union's Special Group on SSR issues, with representatives from the competent services of the European External Action Service EEAS and the Commission, as well as with the European Union Security Sector Governance Facility.

Working Group on Missions and Operations-related Training (WGMOT)

 

Training Working Group for European Union missions and operations, established under the Executive Academic Board in November 2015. It aims to contribute to the coordination, coherence and quality of training personnel who will be deployed or serve in CSDP missions and operations and the EU's crisis management structures.

Sectoral Qualification Framework for the Military Officer Profession Executive Group

The Executive Group for implementing the Framework of Professional Qualifications for Military Officers is the latest formation of the European Security and Defence College. It aims to support Member States in implementing the Framework of Professional Qualifications for Military Officers and gradually harmonising with European Standards. For the issuance of European qualifications, the Military Staff of the European Union worked for several years together with the European Security and Defence College in close cooperation with the Member States. In conclusion, the Framework refers to how an officer should function and act in the future's complex and multidimensional operating environment, in which the EU will need to develop the full range of its security and defence capabilities.