4th Module of 16th CSDP High Level Course 2020/2021, ‘Jean REY’

Module 4 of the 16^th CSDP High Level Course (CSDP HLC) was organised in Athens, Greece from 7 to 11 June 2021. The module was co-organised by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence and the Austrian National Defence Academy, together with the European Union Institute for Security Studies. Due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, the module was held in hybrid mode (attendance in person or online).

The 4th module of the 16^th CSDP HLC provided a comprehensive review of the current state of play, the progress made and the further development of the CSDP in the context of EU external action. Furthermore, the module outlined the implications of horizontal issues, the evolving security challenges, as well as the security dimension of migration, energy security, climate security, and disaster relief, with a special focus on the operational engagement in the Western Balkans and in the Mediterranean.

A scenario-based exercise was conducted at the end of the module with the support of experts from the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels. The participants had to apply the decision-making process, take ownership of the content of the course as a whole, as well as integrate and take on board the course values.

On the final day of the module, 67 course participants from 20 EU Member States and EU institutions/agencies graduated on completion of the CSDP High Level Course and were given the ESDC Certificate signed by the HR/VP Josep Borrell.