7.2. Training for Partnerships (Jochen Rehrl

7.2. TRAINING FOR PARTNERSHIPS

by Jochen Rehrl

European Security and Defence College/Protsko Nikita

Close cooperation with TAIEX (Western Balkans) and DG NEAR (Eastern Partnership) assured high quality training for real-time training needs in the field of security and defence for EU partners

Demand-driven training programmes have been established for the remaining two regional partnerships (EaP and WB). Common features of the two programmes include their security and defence dimension, their inclusiveness (open to all EU Member States and partners) and the fact that they are conducted under the auspices of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC). At the end of the day, our partners should be ready to join our efforts in crisis management using civilian and military instruments around the world.

CSDP TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS

The European Union sees multilateralism and partnerships as core principles when it comes to external action. Therefore, both multilateral organisations and partners around Europe receive priority treatment, which should lead to mutually beneficial and spill-over effects in other areas as well.

The main partnership areas are the ‘Eastern Partnership’ (EaP) with its six members1, the Western Balkans (WB) with another six partners2 and the ‘Union of the Mediterranean’ with 15 non-EU countries3. In the area of training and education, the latter are focused on the Euro-Mediterranean University, which was inaugurated in Slovenia in June 2008, and other non-defence-related issues.

The EU has close links with the countries of the Western Balkans. The Union aims to secure stable, prosperous and well-functioning democratic societies on a steady path towards EU integration. In 2006, Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovenia established a training programme which should help the countries of the region to prepare for accession talks and in particular for the negotiation of chapter 31 (foreign, security and defence policy) of the Union acquis.

The Western Balkans is the region in which the common security and defence policy (CSDP) made its first operational footprint in 2003 with its first CSDP missions (EUPM, EUPOL Proxima) and operations (Concordia). Since then, the EU has

1 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine 2 Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia 3 Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco,

Palestine, Syria (suspended), Tunisia and Turkey.

The annual CSDP training activities with more than 600 participants at the Ukrainian National Defence University marks the biggest ESDC event within an academic year.

retained a key supporting role in stabilising Bosnia and Herzegovina through a military-led mission (EUFOR ALTHEA). Between 2003 and 2012 the EU also deployed a police mission (EUPM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Kosovo4, the EU has deployed a mission to support the Kosovo authorities in upholding the rule of law (EULEX). CSDP missions and operations have also been deployed in North Macedonia (Concordia, Proxima).

The training programme was initially a ‘copy’ of the ESDC high level course, including four modules, but it was only open to Western Balkan partners. Over time, the number of modules was reduced to three, and the last module was conducted in Brussels. Although content-wise it was highly appreciated by the beneficiaries, the training had a massive impact on the travel expenditure budget of the sending authorities. Therefore a lack of nominations for the three-module course resulted in a reflection phase by the organisers and a restructuring of the content.

As a result of these discussions, the programme was restructured and updated into a three-module training programme, which included an eLearning course (module I), a regular CSDP orientation course (module II) and an interactive reflection seminar (module III), in which the participants were guided to use the knowledge gained throughout modules I and II.

Austria, Croatia and Hungary volunteered as organisers of the updated training programme. In addition, the training programme

4 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the

Kosovo declaration of independence.

was brought under the auspices of the ESDC in 2010. The latter initiative resulted in several win-win-situations: • The training audience was widened by bringing in EU Member States, which would sit in the same room, learn the same content and discuss the same issues with the Western Balkan partners at the same level. • The training was provided within the academic programme of the ESDC and followed standardised curricula. Therefore, the students received a certificate of attendance which is recognised by all EU Member States and the EU institutions. • The organisers initiated cooperation with the

Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) instrument of the European

Commission. TAIEX supports public administrations with regard to the approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation as well as facilitating the sharing of EU best practices. This cooperation allowed the Western Balkan beneficiaries to attend the training instead of having to refuse the training offer due to budgetary constraints. The training programme is currently in its 14th cycle and can count about 500 alumni from the public administration of the Western Balkan partners. The names of alumni are recorded in a database and the list is updated on a regular basis via alumni seminars and conferences. Through the training provided under the auspices of the ESDC, besides first-class information about CSDP, the participants also receive a first glimpse of a common European security culture, which will help the European countries and others in a coherent and credible way to establish strategic autonomy.

The first positive result of the training programme was the accession of Croatia to the EU in 2013. Montenegro and Serbia have begun membership talks. North Macedonia and Albania are candidate countries, while the others are potential candidates for EU membership.

CSDP TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

Due to the success of the training programme for the Western Balkans, Austria developed the idea of providing a similar activity for the Eastern Partnership countries. In the margins of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2013, Austria started the three-modular training programme using the experiences gained so far. However, the training programme is demanddriven and therefore had to be adapted to the ambitions of the region, keeping in mind the cultural, religious and political differences between the six countries.

In general, the Eastern Partnership aims at building a common area of shared democracy, prosperity, stability and increased cooperation. Additionally, bonds forged through the Eastern Partnership help strengthen state and societal resilience: it makes both the EU and the partners stronger and better able to deal with internal and external challenges.

The CSDP is only one part, but a crucial one, of the cooperation with the partner countries. Security and defence issues are discussed within the EaP panel on ‘security, CSDP and civil protection’, which convenes its meeting twice a year in Brussels and supports deliverable 12 ‘stronger security cooperation’ of the 20 deliverables for 20205. Within the meetings, a work plan (‘living document’) is established, which comprises all activities in various fields, provided by one EU Member State, a coalition of the willing, or under the umbrella of the ESDC. Financial support is granted through a separate budget line in the EU budget, which cov-

5 The new deliverables will be based on the ideas laid down in the Joint Communication: EaP policy beyond 2020:

Reinforcing Resilience - an Eastern Partnership that delivers for all (JOIN(2020)7 final of 18.03.2020).

European Security and Defence College/Protsko Nikita

Providing training for our partners will make them strong, which will make the European Union together with its partners stronger in the world.

ers travel and accommodation expenses of the EaP participants and some experts as well as the costs for the meeting rooms and catering.

So far, training activities have been conducted in all six EaP countries. Besides the three-module training programme, Austria also provides activities in the fields of ‘hybrid threat’, ‘strategic communication’, ‘human security’, ‘cyber security’ and ‘conflict analysis’. Alumni seminars and conferences keep the former students up-to-date on current CSDP issues and facilitate networking between the former students.

POSITIVE SIDE EFFECTS

Networking is one of the positive side effects of training for partner regions. The former alumni can rely on a network within the EU Member States (both former participants and experts) and the partner region (both inter- and intra-institutional). The latter is a clear added value and helps to strengthen capacity building and good governance. Personal contacts, face-to-face meetings and exchanging telephone numbers facilitate decision-making processes and information exchange. Due to the regular courses, seminars and conferences for alumni, the former students expand their network year after year.

In addition, the training courses take place under the principle ‘in the region, for the region’, which helps those involved to understand local traditions, habits and culture. This also helps the participants to understand each other’s way of thinking, living and working, and those of their neighbours. Understanding each other is also crucial in order to avoid misunderstandings, to build confidence and to build good neighbourly relations.

CONCLUSIONS

The training programmes for both the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership are well-established activities. The success of regional activities is based on the standard curricula of the ESDC, and the continued efforts of the organisers and the high level speakers, who support the events by sharing their experience and expertise.

Although the programmes have been conducted for more than a decade, the content is up-to-date. In light of hybrid threats, cybersecurity, strategic communication and climate change, the security and defence agenda of the EU will remain one of the crucial elements for further cooperation with the partner countries.

The line between internal and external security has become blurred, and there is an undisputed nexus between security and development, and climate change and globalisation are topics of general concern. Therefore, training for a common security and defence policy will never be outdated, will never be useless and will never be a waste of time.

Providing training for our partners will strengthen them, which will make the European Union together with its partners stronger in the world.