Structure

The Steering Committee oversees the ESDC’s strategic direction. Comprising representatives from each EU Member State, it meets at least four times per year to assess training requirements, approve training curricula and courses, provide guidance on educational priorities and approve new members of the ESDC’s network. It also endorses the draft budget proposed by the Head. 

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who has the overall responsibility for the ESDC, appoints a representative to chair the Steering Committee. 

The Executive Academic Board (EAB) is responsible for maintaining the quality and coherence of the ESDC’s academic programmes. Comprising senior representatives from civilian and military training institutes in the Member States, the EAB develops training curricula and oversees the implementation of the annual academic programme. It focuses inter alia on ensuring consistency in training across the ESDC’s network of institutions. The EAB regularly evaluates training activities and provides academic advice to the Steering Committee.

The current Chair of the EAB is Col Symeon Zambas.

The Head of the ESDC is the sole legal representative of the ESDC and is responsible for its financial and administrative management. The ESDC Secretariat, comprising mainly Seconded National Experts (SNEs), provides administrative and operational support to all bodies of the ESDC. It assists the Head in managing daily operations, supports the organisation of training activities and ensures the overall quality of educational content. The Secretariat also coordinates the network of civilian and military institutes that contribute to the ESDC’s training programmes, helping to sustain the college’s collaborative approach. By managing both in-person and e-learning courses, the Secretariat plays a central role in the ESDC’s ability to deliver high-quality, relevant training across the EU.

More information about the current Head of the ESDC can be found here.