EUTI Training – Negotiation and Mediation Skills for the Workplace

EUTI Training – Negotiation and Mediation Skills for the Workplace

Clingendael Academy, under the auspices of EUTI – European Union Training Initiative, will hold the Negotiation and Mediation Skills for the Workplace training for EULEX Kosovo mission personnel.

This three-day course responds to the need for negotiation, mediation and dialogue skills in complex civilian crisis management environments. Mission personnel regularly work across cultural and professional boundaries, balance competing interests and manage tensions within teams and in interactions with external stakeholders. The overall aim of the training is to strengthen participants’ capacity to address such challenges constructively and support effective cooperation within the Mission.

The objective is to provide practical experience in negotiation, conflict management and mediation through exercises, role plays and realistic workplace scenarios.

Training dates: 10–12 November 2026

Training location: Pristina, Kosovo

Target Group: Primarily mid- to senior-level EULEX Kosovo mission personnel with managerial or supervisory responsibilities, including Heads of Unit and team managers. The course is also relevant to Human Resources officers, Peer Support Group members and Confidential Counsellors involved in managing workplace tensions and supporting staff wellbeing.

Capacity: Approximately 20 participants

Course language: English

The course covers negotiation and workplace problem-solving, conflict management and leadership, and mediation and organisational effectiveness. Participants will explore negotiation approaches, cultural dimensions of conflict, stakeholder analysis and basic mediation techniques. A final multi-party simulation will bring together the main learning outcomes.

EUTI – Carpathians Blue Shield 2026: Building Trust and Interoperability Through Live Exercises

EUTI – Carpathians Blue Shield 2026: Building Trust and Interoperability Through Live Exercises

Bringing together gendarmerie, police, military and civilian personnel from 19 countries, Carpathians Blue Shield 2026 strengthened the cooperation, communication and interoperability needed for effective European Union Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions.

Effective international cooperation does not happen overnight. It requires clear communication, shared objectives, mutual trust and the ability to work seamlessly across national and organisational boundaries. These capabilities are particularly important in the context of European Union Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions, where personnel from different countries and services must work together to achieve common objectives in demanding operational environments.

Organised by the Romanian Gendarmerie, a member of the EUTI consortium, and cofinanced by EUTI, Carpathians Blue Shield 2026 brought together gendarmerie, police, military and civilian personnel from 19 countries for a live exercise (LIVEX) designed to simulate the challenges of a CSDP mission. The exercise provided participants with an opportunity to put their skills into practice, learn from one another and identify areas for improvement in a realistic and demanding environment.

Training together across borders and organisations

With participants representing different professional backgrounds, national practices and working methods, the Carpathians Blue Shield 2026 LIVEX placed cooperation at the heart of the training.

Through complex and challenging scenarios, participants were required to communicate clearly, coordinate their actions and work towards shared objectives. They also had the opportunity to better understand different operational approaches, identify potential gaps in tactics and procedures, and recognise the importance of interoperability in multinational environments.

Exercises of this kind provide valuable opportunities to prepare personnel for the realities of international missions. By working together before deployment, participants can become more familiar with one another’s procedures, strengthen professional relationships and develop the mutual trust needed to operate effectively under challenging conditions.

Turning challenges into practical improvements

Beyond testing operational capabilities, the LIVEX offered valuable opportunities for reflection and learning. Working through complex scenarios encouraged participants to challenge assumptions, identify weaknesses and explore how different approaches could contribute to achieving the same objective.

Carpathians Blue Shield 2026 reinforced several important lessons:

  • Clear communication is fundamental. Effective cooperation starts with a shared understanding of objectives, responsibilities and required actions.

  • Interoperability requires continuous practice. Personnel from different countries and organisations need opportunities to train together and become familiar with one another’s procedures and working methods.

  • Different perspectives can strengthen teams. Understanding different approaches helps participants find common ground and work more effectively towards shared goals.

  • Complex scenarios create opportunities to improve. Challenging situations can expose gaps in tactics and procedures that might otherwise remain unnoticed.

  • Evaluation and honest feedback drive progress. Reflecting on performance and identifying areas for improvement are essential to turning experience into practical learning.

These lessons highlight the importance of continuous training, joint exercising and evaluation in preparing personnel for the demands of multinational operations.

Strengthening readiness for future CSDP missions

Through the Carpathians Blue Shield 2026 LIVEX, participants strengthened their ability to communicate, coordinate actions and cooperate with colleagues from different countries and professional backgrounds. Working together in demanding scenarios also helped them better understand the challenges of multinational cooperation and the importance of shared objectives, mutual trust and interoperable procedures.

These strengthened capabilities can contribute to better teamwork, improved coordination and greater operational effectiveness in potential future CSDP missions.

Ultimately, preparing for multinational operations involves more than developing individual expertise. It means building the collective capacity to work together, adapt to different circumstances and respond to complex challenges as a team.

The key takeaway from Carpathians Blue Shield 2026 is clear: effective cooperation must be built before a mission begins. Clear communication, shared objectives, continuous joint training, mutual trust and honest evaluation are essential foundations for stronger interoperability and more effective international cooperation.

Through its co-financing contribution, EUTI supports initiatives that help personnel strengthen these capabilities and prepare to work together in complex multinational environments.

EUTI Training – Call for Application: Training for Monitors

EUTI Training – Call for Application: Training for Monitors

CMC Finland, under the auspices of EUTI – European Union Training Initiative will hold the Training for Monitors.

The call for applications is now open.

This pilot course responds to the identified need for dedicated pre-mission training for monitors. Drawing on the EUTI course concept developed in 2026, the training is built on the mandates and job descriptions of current monitoring missions, particularly EUMM Georgia and EUM Armenia. The overall aim of the tranining is to enhance the knowledge and skills of monitors and to raise the level of their performance when deployed on a mission. The objective is to give the course participants experience in the typical tasks of a monitor, built on scenario-based practical exercises.

Training dates: 10–13 November 2026

Training location: Tampere and Jämijärvi, Finland

Target Group: Civilian crisis management experts with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience who are planning to apply for monitor positions. Participants should have completed national general pre-mission training on civilian crisis management before joining this course and possess basic knowledge of EU civilian crisis management structures and operations. More detailed requirements in the attached call for applications.

Capacity: 12 participants

Course language: English

The course covers monitoring mission mandates, cross-cutting themes (gender equality, human rights, youth and peace, FIMI, environmental issues), communication and interpersonal skills, patrolling, monitoring, reporting, and safety and security. Pre-course tasks in Moodle are a prerequisite for attending the residential phase. Selected participants should prepare to spend approximately 14 hours completing the pre-course tasks at their own convenience prior to the residential phase of the course.

 

Full board and all travel arrangements are covered by the EUTI project. Full attendance and participation are required for training certification.

Application

Interested candidates must apply using the Application Form by 30 September 2026

More Information

Training Specialist Mikko Ojala, CMC Finland | [email protected] | +358 50 574 4089

CEP at the Final Event of Project RurALL: Linking Local Solutions with Macroregional Cooperation

CEP at the Final Event of Project RurALL: Linking Local Solutions with Macroregional Cooperation

At the Final Event of the Project RurALL, CEP contributed in its role as coordinator of Priority Area 10 of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, presenting how local initiatives can achieve broader impact through macroregional cooperation and multilevel governance.

The presentation focused on the importance of participatory governance, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity-building in strengthening resilient rural communities. It explored how successful local initiatives and project results can move beyond pilot areas through stronger coordination, cooperation, and exchange across the Danube Region.

At the same time, the event also reflected CEP’s broader work in supporting municipalities and local stakeholders through practical capacity-building initiatives. By connecting macroregional policy coordination with hands-on mentorship and cooperation at the local level, CEP demonstrated how different projects and activities can complement one another: one helping create strategic frameworks and networks, the other translating these approaches into concrete support for municipalities and rural communities.

In the following roundtable, the event provided the opportunity to exchange experiences with local and regional representatives on practical approaches to rural development, cooperation, and inclusive governance across the Danube Region.

EUTI Secretariat at EAB Meeting in Brussels

EUTI Secretariat at EAB Meeting in Brussels

BRUSSELS – Nina Čepon and Urban Jakša are wrapping up their work visit to Brussels, where they represented the EUTI consortium at the Executive Academic Board (EAB) meeting that took place on 11 and 12 January 2026.

During the sessions, Nina and Urban collaborated with partners to update the HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) curriculum to include new modules that reflect the evolving realities of CSDP missions, such as threats from drones and doxing. They also gave an overview of the past and future EUTI plans to the participants of the meeting, ensuring continued alignment with European training standards.

One of the outcomes of EAB was the confirmation of several pilot trainings, including Environmental Management and AI Leadership. The ESDC network also expanded during this session with the inclusion of three new members, such as Democritus University.

In Working Groups 1 and 2, the focus remained on refining training for Project Management and mission orientation. Furthermore, new trainings to be carried out under the auspices of the ESDC were introduced, focusing heavily on psychological support and medical care in the field.

One of the highlights of the visit was a meeting at DG DEFIS (Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space). This session highlighted the growing intersection of space, the defense industry, and evolving training needs—ranging from specialized space programs like Copernicus and Galileo to vital administrative, HR, and procurement skills.

Furthermore, while in Brussels, the Urban held a meeting with representatives of the European Commission responsible for monitoring the EUTI project. He presented key milestones and innovations, highlighting how EUTI’s nature as a smaller consortium allows for agile testing of new tools and approaches. The goal remains ensuring the sustainability of these practices by successfully transferring knowledge and expertise to the ESDC.

 

A bit more on EAB: The Executive Academic Board (EAB) is a central body of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC). Its role is to ensure the quality and consistency of training activities provided under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. More information on their work is available here.