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The European Group on Training (EGT), since its inception under the European Commission-financed pilot project on “Training for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management” has endeavoured to advance the civilian component of the European Union’s ability to mitigate crisis management.
As an open network, the EGT continues to operate on an informal basis. The EGT currently comprises European training institutions and NGO training providers, as well as relevant ministries engaged in the recruitment and training of civilian crisis management personnel. EU Member States not currently represented on the EGT are welcome to nominate training institutions and/or representatives to be part of the network.
During the first four phases spanning from 2001-2007 the EGT and its members collectively organised over 60 training courses, with a combined total of approximately 1400 participants. Training targeted civilians at an operational level designated serve in international missions. Previous research by EGT coordinators have shown a third of participants on EGT courses responding to the inquiry have been deployed on various international missions. The EGT not only continues to increase the pool of trained experts for deployment in EU missions, but also works diligently to address the challenge of linking training to recruitment and deployment.
In its phase 2008/2009 the EGT focussed on the following key objectives: - to consolidate, document and publish the training curricula developed by the EGT;
- to develop and pilot specialist courses relevant to current multi-lateral initiatives;
- to continue training experts identified for participation in EU Civilian Response Teams (CRT);
- to build consensus around a European training standard for deployment in international missions, compatible with UN, World Bank and OSCE requirements;
- to establish a system of course certification for training organisations delivering EGT modules;
- to support the training for civilian crisis management and stabilization missions in Africa;
- and to strengthen the civilian training capacities of the EU Member States.
As part of one of the final EU conferences held in October 2009 under the Swedish Presidency, the EGT presented its achievements to both the European Commission and the Council of Europe, also discussing additional training requirements. After having been appointed by the steering group, ZIF’s role as the EGT leader was approved by all members of the EGT in February 2010.
EU Member States play the lead role in training qualified personnel to be sent on civilian crisis management missions. Through its “EC Project on training for civilian aspects of crisis management” the European Commission provided significant complementary support in these training efforts.
With “Action Fiche 7 -Training of Civilian Experts for Crisis Management & Stabilization Missions (Crisis Preparedness – Annual Action Programme 2010 and the ‘Indicative Programme 2009 – 2011’ for the Instrument for Stability (IfS)” the European Commission aims to support the provision of enhanced training opportunities for a broad range of targeted personnel requiring preparation for participation in EU and other international civilian crisis management type missions. The European Commission assistance seeks to optimize the link between training and actual deployment, thus intending to include a specific focus on operational training at the pre-deployment stage.
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