What we are, what we do. A manual of the European Security and Defence College

In the 10 years since the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) was officially established in 2005, it has grown far beyond what most people could have imagined at the time. It has grown in terms of types of training activities and the number of those activities organised each year, in terms of course participant numbers and in terms of outreach to countries outside the EU. It has become the most important training provider on Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), in the wider framework of the Common Foreign and Defence Policy.

At the same time, the ESDC has retained its main characteristics and strong points, namely: its network structure; its close links with the EU institutions, guaranteeing access to expert lecturers as well as lessons learned and new policies; its intrinsic civilian-military integration, making it the perfect platform for discussing and teaching the EU's comprehensive approach to crisis management; its dedication to exploring new technologies and methodologies in its training activities through blended learning; and finally its cost-effectiveness.

Through its activities, the ESDC network not only trains course participants from the 28 EU Member States and the EU institutions, but it also helps non-EU countries to understand how CSDP functions. It contributes actively to EEAS efforts to work more closely with partners from around the world. This booklet contains some basic information on what it is and what it does.

EU: EEAS: European Security and Defence College (ESDC) https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/common-security-and-defence-policy-csdp/4369

ESO: Background information: Council Joint Action 2005/575/CFSP of 18 July 2005 establishing a European Security and Defence College (ESDC) http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-joint-action-2005-575-cfsp-of-18-july-2005-establishing-a-european-security-and-defence-college-esdc/

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