European Security and Defence College

The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) was established in 2005 with the aim of providing strategic-level education in European Security and Defence Policy, now Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). As a training and education instrument of the CSDP, the ESDC promotes and develops a European Security Culture among civilian and military personnel.

The ESDC is organised as a network bringing together civilian and military institutes, colleges, academies, universities, institutions and other actors dealing with security and defence policy issues within the Union as identified by Member States. It is currently composed of around 140 national training institutes with various areas of expertise and back-grounds. The training audience includes civil servants, diplomats, police officers, and military personnel from the EU Member States and EU institutions involved in CSDP. Partner countries and other international organisations are also invited to participate in some of the ESDC courses. The ESDC awards its students a certificate signed by the High Representative and legally recognised by all the member states and EU institutions. The ESDC is also in charge of the implementation of The European initiative for the exchange of young officers, often referred as “military Erasmus”​, an initiative undertaken by the EU Member States aimed at developing the exchanges between armed forces of future military officers as well as their teachers and instructors during their initial education and training.