The first specialised training programme for national diplomats and EU officials who are joining the European External Action Service (EEAS) took place at the College of Europe’s Bruges campus from 30 August to 3 September 2010.
The targeted one-week training covered the structure and main policy areas of the EEAS as well as related interactive workshops and exercises.
The programme combined training sessions on relevant knowledge and skills, delivered by academics and practitioners from the College of Europe in cooperation with the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’, the Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies in Oxford and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.
Participants from national foreign services and the EU institutions also benefited from the opportunity to network, exchange experience and explore a new EEAS ‘esprit de corps’. In addition, the College had the great pleasure to welcome Ambassador Poul Skytte Christoffersen, Special Advisor to High Representative Ashton on the EEAS, and Ambassador Carlos Fernández-Arias Minuesa, Spanish Representative to the Political and Security Committee, as high-level speakers. The evaluation of the training programme by the participants was very positive.
More information on the EEAS training website.