The Common Security and Defence Policy
High-Level Course – Session 2026-2027
In collaboration with the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and the Egmont Institute, the Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID) organised, from 5 to 9 October 2026, the first module of the 22nd session of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) High Level Course, named this year after the former Greek diplomat and co-founder of the European project, Giannos Kranidiotis (1947–1999).
Once again, more than seventy senior civilian and military officials, diplomats and policymakers from all EU Member States came together to reflect on the key policy lines, developments and trends shaping the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This fostered an in-depth discussion on current and emerging challenges, ranging from the European security architecture and the integrated approach to EU crisis management and emerging global threats.
Highlights of the first day included the keynote speeches by both the President Emeritus of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the Belgian Chief of Defence (CHOD), General aviator Frederik Vansina. The next three modules will take place at the Centro Superior de Estudios de la Defensa Nacional (CESEDEN) in Madrid (23-27 November 2026), at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu (5-9 April 2027) and, finally, at the Ludovika University of Public Service in Budapest (21-25 June 2027).
