Within the European Union Training Initiative (EUTI), a new research paper exploring the opportunities, structural risks, and regulatory implications of embedding Artificial Intelligence (AI) into EU Civilian Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions has been published.

Drafted by Dr. Francesco Paolo Levantino and Dr. Marta Stroppa from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA) within the framework of the EUTI Working Group on Innovation, the paper aims to contribute to current discussions on the responsible, effective, and human rights-compliant use of AI in civilian crisis management, in line with relevant EU and international legal and policy frameworks.

Shifting from Reactive to Anticipatory Crisis Management

As geopolitical instability, hybrid threats, and human rights violations intensify globally, civilian crisis management faces operational pressure. The paper outlines how AI systems can support a transition from reactive responses to a more proactive and adaptive framework.

Some of the insights from the Paper:

• The authors examine how Generative AI (GenAI) can move training beyond generic case studies. By utilizing frameworks like the BOPPPS model, instructors can leverage AI to instantly build role-specific scenario “injections”.
• Across the live mission lifecycle, AI can significantly improve situational awareness through satellite imagery and computer vision, reduce cognitive overload for human decision-makers, and optimize smart logistics or personnel matching.
• A core focus of the analysis is dedicated to technical limitations. The paper notes that fragile crisis environments often suffer from incomplete or biased datasets, warning that uncritical reliance on AI can trigger automation bias, deskilling, or create contextually plausible but factually flawed hallucinations.
• The integration of technological innovation must not occur in a normative vacuum. The paper highlights that under the EU AI Act, systems used to evaluate learning outcomes or guide vocational pathways in training environments are classified as High-Risk, legally mandating strict human oversight, logging, and data governance.

Actionable Recommendations

The publication concludes with seven foundational benchmarks aimed at guiding the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CivOpsHQ), and member states as they design official official EU operational strategies:

1. Embed AI initiatives logically within existing CSDP training and operational policies.
2. Utilize the EU AI Act, GDPR, and EUDPR as strict baseline quality benchmarks even where their direct application isn’t strictly mandatory.
3. Conduct thorough, use-case-specific impact assessments (such as Fundamental Rights Impact Assessments) prior to any deployment.
4. Prioritize comprehensive AI literacy across all personnel lines to preserve and reinforce meaningful human judgment over automated systems.

Read the full paper to explore the complete findings and policy recommendations:

Training dates: 8–10 June 2026

Training location: Barsey by Warwick, Brussels, Belgium

Participants: field practitioners from 11 CSDP civilian missions and 5 CSDP military missions, alongside representatives from EEAS Headquarters (CivOpsHQ, MPCC, EUMS, PCMD, and EPF).

Background and Core Objectives

The 2022 Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, alongside the 2023 Civilian CSDP Compact, strongly reinforces the European Union’s commitment to systematically mainstreaming human rights and ensuring strict compliance with International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Following the adoption of the EU Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Due Diligence Policy (EU HRDDP) in February 2024 and the issuance of its Implementation Handbook in June 2025, the European External Action Service (EEAS) requested renewed support to operationalize these guidelines in the field.

To address high staff turnover and policy implementation challenges identified in recent mission assessment reports, this 3-day training activity was organized by the Egmont Institute in the scope of EUTI.

The program was designed as a direct, highly practical follow-up to the March 2026 training on “Mainstreaming Human Rights into Civilian CSDP Crisis Management Missions” conducted by Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA). It focused on the following core objectives:

• Operationalizing the HRDDP: Translating the policy framework into concrete, field-level practices across the core phases of risk management: Identification, Assessment, Mitigation, and Monitoring.
• Civilian-Military Synergy: Promoting a balanced framework for both civilian and military CSDP missions, as well as European Peace Facility (EPF) personnel, handling both lethal and non-lethal assistance.
• Risk Mitigation Mastery: Equipping key advisors and operations officers to manage critical risks, particularly regarding Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), violations of children’s rights, and the “do no harm” principle when engaging with civil society organizations (CSOs).

On the first day, participants benefited from the shared knowledge and diverse perspectives of senior experts from prominent international institutions, including OHCHR, EEAS, DCAF, the Belgian Royal Military Academy, ICRC, and OSRSG CAAC.

From 19 to 22 May 2026 in Pristina, Kosovo, the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF), under the auspices of EUTI – European Union Training Initiative, successfully conducted “Team & Conflict Management in Peace Operations – Working in and Leading Multicultural Teams” training for select members of EULEX Mission in Pristina, Kosovo. The intensive program was designed to strengthen internal collaboration and leadership within civilian crisis management.

Training dates: 19–22 May 2026

Training location: EULEX Mission in Pristina, Kosovo

Participants: 11 mid-level managers and team leaders with supervisory or coordination responsibilities within EULEX Kosovo.

Background and core objectives

A mission’s working performance and ability to deliver on its mandate depends entirely on the ability of its members to collaborate trustfully and effectively. Civilian crisis management missions, such as EULEX Kosovo, operate within complex environments characterized by high workloads, stress, diverse multidisciplinary teams, complex reporting structures, and time pressure. Within this high-pressure context, interpersonal tensions and conflicts are inevitable, and if left unaddressed, they can negatively affect trust, team performance, and overall mission outcomes.

To address these challenges, this course actively developed effective teamwork by enabling mission staff—especially at the mid-management level—to constructively manage interpersonal conflicts, strengthen trust, and build cohesive, motivated teams. The program focused on the following core premises and objectives:

• Navigating Team Dynamics: Equiping mid-level managers to play a key role in shaping team dynamics, establishing psychological safety, and building trust.
• Harnessing Conflict Productively: Treating conflict as an inherent, potentially constructive aspect of teamwork that can be resolved timely to leverage diverse perspectives and individual strengths.
• Adaptive Leadership: Developing adaptive, culturally sensitive, and emotionally intelligent leadership approaches to successfully guide highly diverse, multicultural teams.
• Practical Application: Combining conceptual inputs with an experiential learning approach directly tailored to the operational realities of EULEX.

The Egmont Institute, under the auspices of EUTI – European Union Training Initiative, will hold EU Human Rights and Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) Training.

The call for applications is now open.

This course supports the European Union’s commitment to ensuring compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law in crisis management. It is designed to help participants operationalize the 2024 EU HRDDP and the 2025 HRDDP Implementation Handbook through practical capacity-building and realistic scenarios. As such is closely related to the recently held Training of Trainers for Human Right Advisors (HRA): Mainstreaming Human Rights into Civilian Crisis Management Missions’ Internal and External Activities: using a HRBA approach.

Training dates: 8–10 June 2026

Training location: Hotel Barsey by Warwick, Brussels, Belgium

Target Group: Primarily personnel from CFSP/CSDP civilian and military missions and European Peace Facility (EPF) staff.

Capacity: Approximately 20 participants.

Priority: Given to Human Rights and Gender Advisors/Focal Points, though legal advisors and operations department colleagues are welcome.

The aim of the training is to strengthen participants’ ability to operationalize the EU HRDDP by applying Human Rights due diligence in realistic scenarios, thereby supporting more effective, conflict-sensitive, and accountable EU crisis management interventions while reducing the risk of human rights and IHL violations.

More information—including details on the participant mix, course modules, key learning outcomes, and logistical arrangements—is available in the call for applications.

Application

Interested candidates must apply by Friday, 24 April 2026.

From 23 to 25 March 2026 in Pisa, the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, under the auspices of EUTI – European Union Training Initiative, held the Training of Trainers (ToT) for Human Rights Advisors (HRA): Mainstreaming Human Rights into Civilian Crisis Management Missions’ Internal and External Activities: using a HRBA approach.

The program brought together nine Human Rights Advisors (HRAs) from civilian CSDP missions, along with one Brussels-based capacity. The initiative directly addressed a critical need: bridging the gap between high-level policy and the practical application of human rights standards on the ground. The primary goal of the training was to equip HRAs to act as the primary trainers within their respective missions.

While substantial progress has been made in policy development of human right standards, a significant gap remains in the practical application of these standards.To bridge this gap, the course enhanced participants’ competencies in presenting complex human rights concepts, facilitating learning, and guiding mission members in applying a human rights-based approach to programming. The curriculum moved beyond theoretical definitions, focusing on the HOW of human rights mainstreaming through practical exercises, including situational analysis, elaborating Theories of Change, and designing monitoring frameworks.

As a result of the training, Human Rights Advisors can now more effectively design and deliver mission‑specific activities that strengthen the integration of human rights across all operational areas. The “agile package” they received—containing tailored tools and documents based on the course materials—enhances their ability to translate human rights guidelines into practical actions and train other mission members.

This improved capacity enables HRAs to more confidently implement the 2021 Civilian Operations Commander Operational Guidelines on Human Rights Mainstreaming and Human Rights Due Diligence, ensuring that mission personnel are better equipped to identify, prevent, and address human rights risks. Ultimately, this elevates the mission’s overall performance by embedding consistent, informed, and proactive human rights practices in daily operations.