On Tuesday 29 September, members of Senior Course 137 and NATO Regional Cooperation Course 24 (NRCC) took part in a virtual visit to the EU. As part of the European Perspectives Field Study, Course Members were given a rare opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of matters relating to European Defence Development (EDA), the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), EU-NATO Cooperation, and Brexit.
Mr Arnout MOLENAAR, Head of Security and Defence Policy Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS), began by presenting developments in the area of European defence.
He was followed by Mr Panagiotis GIANNAKOULIAS, from the Directorate for EU-NATO Relations, Security and Defence Policy in the EEAS and Ms Alina PAPUC, Policy Coordinator, Strategy and Instruments of the European Neighbourhood Policy in the EEAS. They talked about the present and future of EU-NATO Cooperation opportunities and challenges and presented the EU’s policy and programs in the MENA Region, a component of the EU’s Global Strategy.
The morning was concluded by Mr Cristian CONTAN, Acting Deputy Head of Division, EURCA.West4 United Kingdom, from the European External Action Service (EEAS), who briefed Course Members of SC 137 and NRCC 24 on the implications of Brexit on the EU foreign and security policies.
After the briefings, during the question and answer session, Course Members had the opportunity to delve into other topics that were of particular relevance to their research papers, both for the Committee Study Project and Individual Paper, to be completed by the end of the Course.
This virtual Field Study in Brussels-EU complemented the day dedicated to the European Union and the CSDP held during Study Period C.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Nancy Vellone and Ms Elena Iannuzzi, ITA C)
NATO Defense College