About the European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management (CoE)

The European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management (CoE), is a member-based association, located in Berlin, and founded in February 2020. Created following an invitation from the German Federal Foreign Office to all European Union (EU) Member States, the CoE operates as a service provider, supporting its 25 current members (EU Member States), and working together with the European External Action Service (EEAS), its Preferred Partner, to strengthen civilian crisis management capabilities within the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy. 

NATO, represented by its International Staff, is also a Preferred Partner. Preferred partnership of both, the EEAS and NATO IS, is rooted in the EU’s integrated approach to external conflict and crises. This partnership underscores the essential role of civil-military cooperation in sustainably maintaining peace and security. Hence, membership in the CoE is open to all EU Member States and NATO Allies, with decisions on membership made unanimously by the members. 

The CoE’s key task is to strengthen civilian crisis management capabilities within the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. We achieve this by facilitating the exchange of good practices among members, enabling them to learn from each other’s experiences. Additionally, the CoE provides expert advice and consultation to help our members strengthen their national systems, structures, and processes so that they can better contribute to EU civilian crisis management. 

The CoE fosters knowledge creation by facilitating the exchange of information and identifying good practices in civilian crisis management. We also host a Knowledge Hub—a unique pool of resources dedicated to civilian crisis management. Our goal is to aid our members in implementing the Civilian CSDP Compact to make civilian CSDP more effective and joined up. 

The CoE's work is centred around our vision, mission, and values.

Vision

Our vision is a peaceful, secure and resilient world with a European Union fully capable of responding to conflicts and crises.   

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Mission

Our mission is to strengthen capabilities for civilian crisis management within the framework of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy.

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Values

We are committed to uphold and promote the values of the European Union: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.

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As an organisation, the CoE is also dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency, as outlined in our Code of Conduct. 

Strategy

The CoE's work is shaped by the following strategic guidelines:

  • Serving EU Member States with their national capability development processes enabling them to strengthen their national civilian CSDP capabilities and enhance their contributions to EU civilian CSDP missions.

  • Advocating for civilian CSDP as a foreign policy tool to raise visibility of civilian CSDP missions within the framework of the EU’s CFSP to meet the future needs of civilian crisis management in a rapidly evolving political landscape.

The CoE’s strategic direction is also guided by our Advisory Board. Established in June 2025, the Advisory Board provides strategic advice to the Director, on behalf of the Centre’s members. Ensuring that the voices and needs of members guide the CoE’s work, the Advisory Board plays an important role in shaping both current and future priorities for the Centre.  

The Advisory Board is currently represented by: Germany, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden.  

The CoE is financed by a grant from Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and by financial contributions from its members (membership fees). Members also contribute to the work of the CoE through the secondment of highly qualified, no-cost experts to the Centre in Berlin.