16th CSDP High Level Course 2020/2021, ‘Jean REY’
The 16th CSDP High Level Course (HLC) 2020-2021, ‘Jean REY’ Module 2, organised by the Spanish National Defence Advanced Studies Centre (CESEDEN) was conducted between 18 and 22 January 2021. Module 2 in Madrid was run as a residential part (attendance in person) and via VTC owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CSDP HLC course consists of four residential modules, each lasting one week each. These are held in Brussels, Madrid, Paris and Athens respectively.
The overall aim of the CSDP High Level Course (HLC) is to prepare selected senior experts from EU Member States, candidate countries and EU institutions for leadership positions in the application and development of CSDP policy, crisis management and capability development within the wider context of the CFSP. The CSDP course is designed to enable these experts to cooperate more effectively with the various actors in the field. It aims to broaden the participants’ knowledge and understanding of the EU security and defence architecture, the integrated approach to the CSDP as a key tool of the CFSP as well as of current and future policy, missions and operations. The course also aims to increase participants’ awareness of new threats and other horizontal issues.
The 2nd module of the CSDP High Level Course, under the generic title “EU Crisis Management Development”, focuses on the rationale and challenges related to the development of military and civilian crisis management capabilities. The module is designed to enable participants to develop an insight into EU crisis management concepts, processes and tools, and to update and broaden their understanding of crisis management capabilities. It focuses on efforts to create synergies between civilian and military capabilities, and it covers the implementation of the Civilian CSDP Compact. In addition, the module deals with European armament cooperation and procurement and offers participants an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the major programmes conducted by the EDA. The module also covers a number of EU regional policies.
53 participants attended Module 2 in Madrid. They have a background as senior experts from the EU Member States and the EU institutions (military staff and civilians, including diplomats and police officers). They already work in key positions or have a clear potential to fill leadership posts, in particular in the CFSP/CSDP field.
Module 2 have had an exceptional group of high-level panellists and speakers, highlighting, among others, the participation of Mr. Javier Solana and Mrs. Cristina Gallach. In charge of carrying out the keynote address and the closing remarks respectively. Additionally, on 20 January 2021 participants had the opportunity to visit EU SatCen facilities. The visit underscored EU SatCen’s mission, role and support of the European Union’s Security and Defence Policy.
