**Summary:**
Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2700, adopted on December 4, 2023, amends Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 regarding the European Security and Defence College (ESDC). The amendment addresses the significant expansion of ESDC activities and the increased number of national experts seconded by Member States, necessitating a stronger administrative support structure to meet its objectives.
The key change involves Article 16 of Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515, which is replaced to specify the contribution from the general budget of the European Union to the ESDC. This contribution will cover costs related to supporting training and education activities, national experts seconded to the ESDC, and up to four contract staff members employed by the ESDC or seconded by the EEAS. The financial reference amount allocated to cover the ESDC's expenditure for the period of January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, is set at EUR 2,933,304.01. Financial arrangements for subsequent periods will be determined by future Council decisions, followed by a financing agreement between the ESDC and the Commission.
This Decision entered into force on December 4, 2023.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Council of the European Union: A body of the European Union composed of ministers from each member state.
Decision CFSP 2020/1515: A Council Decision establishing a European Security and Defence College.
European Security and Defence College (ESDC): An institution of the European Union providing training and education in the field of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: A high-ranking official responsible for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
Brussels: The de facto capital city of the European Union, located in Belgium, where the Council Decision was adopted.
Treaty on European Union: One of the primary treaties forming the constitutional basis of the European Union.
Council Regulation EEC, Euratom, ECSC No 259/68: A regulation setting out the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2023/2700 5.12.2023
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/2700
of 4 December 2023
amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 establishing a European Security and Defence College
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 42(4) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 19 October 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515(1).
(2) The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) has significantly expanded its activities in recent years and hosts
an increased number of national experts seconded to it by the Member States, following numerous requests for new
training and education activities.
(3) The ESDC needs to strengthen its administrative support structure accordingly, including to ensure its further
operationalisation in order to meet its objectives.
(4) A new financial reference amount for the period from 1 January 2024to 31 December 2024should be established.
(5) Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Article 16 of Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 16
Contribution from the general budget of the European Union
1. The ESDC shall receive an annual or multi-annual contribution from the general budget of the European Union. That
contribution may cover, in particular, the costs of:
a) supporting training and education activities;
b) national experts seconded by the Member States to the ESDC;
c) up to four contract staff members employed by the ESDC or seconded by the EEAS to the ESDC, at the request of the
Head of the ESDC and subject to the approval of the Steering Committee of the ESDC; for the purpose of their
secondment to the ESDC, the contract staff seconded by the EEAS shall be employed under the Conditions of
Employment of Other Servants of the European Union laid down in Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC)
No 259/68.
2. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure of the ESDC during the period from 1 January 2024
to 31 December 2024shall be EUR 2 933 304,01.
(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 of 19 October 2020 establishing a European Security and Defence College, and repealing
Decision (CFSP) 2016/2382 (OJ L 348, 20.10.2020, p. 1).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2700/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 5.12.2023
3. The financial reference amount to cover the expenditure of the ESDC for subsequent periods shall be decided by the
Council.
4. Following the decision by the Council referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, a financing agreement shall be concluded
between the ESDC and the Commission.’.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 4 December 2023.
For the Council
The President
O. PUENTE SANTIAGO
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2700/oj