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Friday 27 November 2009
On Thursday 26 November 2009, the NATO Defense College hosted a visit from the participants in the High Level Course of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC). During this week the ESDC course is in Rome following a module on “ESDP Crisis Management Capabilities”, organized by the Italian Centre for High Defence Studies, together with the Armed Forces Academy of Slovakia. The ESDC party was headed by the Course Director, Brigadier General Jacques WALCH.
The objective of the visit was to provide ESDC Course Members, together with their counterparts on the NDC Senior Course, the opportunity for an exchange of views, in an academic forum, on the topic “EU-NATO cooperation on capabilities development”. Participants in the two courses also had the opportunity to mix together during a welcoming “vin d’honneur”, during which the ESDC party was officially welcomed by NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter LOESER. The ESDC visitors also received a brief introduction of the College by the Public Affairs Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mario MASDEA.
For the academic core of the visit, which took place in the Maynard-Thorn Auditorium, participants heard from two well qualified guest speakers. Professor Fabrizio LUCIOLLI, Secretary General of the Italian Atlantic Committee, spoke on the topic “EU-NATO practical cooperation: present challenges and future perspectives”. This was followed by a presentation by Mrs Sigurbjorg JONSDOTTIR, of NATO Defence Staff Team, covering “Harmonization of EU and NATO defense planning”. The session, which included a lively discussion period, was introduced and moderated by Mr Gavin KITCHINGHAM, Chief of NDC’s Curriculum Planning Branch.
This event proved to be a very successful first joint venture between the two Colleges, and will, it is hoped, prove the precursor to further cooperation in the future.
