Courses organised as part of the European Security and Defence College

Each year, IHEDN organises between 6 and 8 courses as part of the European Security and Defence College to help build a common defence culture.

Objectives

The ESDC is a training platform within the European External Action Service, organised in the form of a network. It brings together some 120 institutes, colleges, academies and institutions representing the 27 Member States of the European Union. Its mission is to provide training in the field of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in the wider context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), to develop and promote a common understanding of these tools among civilian and military personnel, and to identify and disseminate, through its training and teaching activities, good practice in relation to the various defence and security issues.

Target audience

  • Between 15 and 60 senior officials from the EU and its Member States (defence, diplomacy, gendarmerie, police, interior, etc.) working or going to work on the issues addressed.

main themes

  • Proposed by IHEDN to CESD, in coordination with EMA/PRIM, MEAE and DGRIS.

Examples of themes:

  • the challenges of space for CSDP ;
  • the european challenges of cyber security ;
  • the challenges of maritime security for the European Union, etc.

Each year the DEAI proposes a new theme in order to renew the 'offer' and maintain the attractiveness of the courses.

teaching

  • 3 days on average, in Brussels or Paris;
  • around twenty modules: e-learning beforehand, conference-debates, round tables and case studies.

sessions 2026

  • 13-15 January 2026: CESD - Cyber diplomacy course (Advanced) in Brussels
  • 9-11 February 2026: CESD, Senior strategic course - module 1 in Brussels
  • 17-20 March 2026: CESD, Maritime Safety Issues Course in Nicosia
  • 24-26 March 2026: CESD, Senior Strategic course - module 2 in Berlin
  • 28-30 April 2026: CESD, Espace course in Brussels
  • 26-28 May 2026: CESD, Senior Strategic Course - module 3 in Rome
  • 9-11 June 2026: CESD - Hybrid threats challenges in Brussels
  • 7-9 July 2026: CESD, European armaments cooperation course in Brussels
  • 5-9 October 2026: CESD, Drones course in Brussels

CONTACT

deai@ihedn.fr

Last modified on :

12 February 2026