CSDP Orientation Course in Thessaloniki, Greece, 17 to 21 March 2025

‘What can we do, in practice, to further strengthen EU crisis management? What will the next mandate entail? How will the EU institutional framework improve cooperation between the Member states? The CSDP orientation course must be seen as a good example of how to improve mutual understanding of some of the key issues facing the EU’s crisis management mechanisms.’

The course, organised by the Hellenic Supreme Joint War College (HSJWC) in cooperation with the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), took place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 17 to 21 March 2025.

The aim of this training activity is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the common security and defence policy of the European Union, its complex structure and decision-making process, its crisis-management procedures and crisis-response mechanism, and its integrated approach to external conflicts and crises.

The course started with welcome and introduction given by the HSJWC Commandant, Major General Michail Ploumis and the keynote speakers Prof. Spyros BLAVOUKOS, Head of the Ariane Condellis European Programme at Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and Ms Evgenia KARATARI, Deputy Head of Division of the EU Situation Room in the Crisis Response Centre at the European External Action Service.

The five-day course focused on topics related to the current geopolitical environment and the challenges facing European security from the perspective of the common security and defence policy. The content covered crisis management structures and procedures, EU peace-keeping operations and current CSDP missions and operations, focusing in more detail on EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and Operation ASPIDES.

The course was attended by 58 participants from Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Malta, Poland, Spain and Sweden.

Special thanks to the organisers, speakers and participants for their dedicated work and active participation!