EUROPEAN UNION CIVILIAN TRAINING GROUP – EUCTG

The European Union Civilian Training Group (EUCTG) plays a key role in enhancing the EU’s capacity to deliver effective and coherent training for civilian Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions. It serves as a strategic platform for EU Member States and relevant EU institutions to coordinate, harmonise, and improve training activities related to civilian crisis management. It was established as a configuration of the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) following the adoption of the Civilian CSDP Compact in 2018. Its primary functions include identifying training requirements, promoting best practices, developing certification mechanisms, and enhancing cooperation among training providers.

EUCTG’s activities are guided by key documents such as the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence (2022), the Civilian CSDP Compact (revised in 2023), and the 2024 EU Policy on CSDP Training, reaffirming the commitment of EU Member States to making civilian CSDP more capable, effective, flexible and responsive. The Group is composed of EU Member States, represented through their National Training Experts (NTE) and Civilian Coordinators for Training (CCT), the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), and other relevant EU bodies and institutions related to civilian crisis management training.

CEP has volunteered as EU Civilian Coordinator for Training (CCT) for three topics, namely:

  • Communication, behavioural and cultural skills
  • Mentoring, monitoring and advising (MMA) – as support to the Italian Carabinieri
  • Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), Strategic Communication and Press and Public Information

EU CCTs are requested to prepare an analysis of training requirements presented in a final document named Training Requirement Analysis (TRA). The main added value of the TRAs is to promote an increased pooling and sharing of the available EU and MS civilian training resources, avoiding duplications for the benefit of both the Member States and the missions through enhanced coordination and cooperation.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF