This year’s edition of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Orientation Course has successfully concluded. The course was organised by the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the auspices of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), with the support of the “G. S. Rakovski” National Defence College.
The certificate award ceremony took place in the Royal Halls of the National Defence College. Ms. Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, and Colonel Assoc. Prof. Petar Marinov, Deputy Commandant for Academic and Research Affairs of the National Defence College, presented certificates to the 46 experts who successfully completed the programme. Participants came from Bulgaria and 18 other countries, including EU Member States, countries of the Eastern Partnership and the Black Sea region, as well as representatives of the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Participants expressed highly positive feedback on the training programme, which covered topics on the current agendas of both the European Union and Bulgaria.
Entitled “Cooperation in the Black Sea Region within the Current European Security Architecture”, the course placed particular emphasis on the Black Sea region, distinguishing it from similar training programmes held in other countries.
On the previous day, participants also took part in a guided tour of Sofia, visiting some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks and gaining further insight into its rich history and cultural heritage.
