EUROPEAN DIPLOMATIC PROGRAMME

The first module, entitled "Common challenges for European Diplomacy: Security, Energy, Climate transition and Humanitarian implications" was jointly organised by the EEAS and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It took place in Prague where 75 junior diplomats from the Member States and the EU institutions, gathered together to hear presentations from top level officials and experts in foreign policy, security, energy, climate and humanitarian aid and to discuss these topics at workshops.

The event was opened by the Head of Career, Learning and Development Division at the EEAS,  Ulrike Hauer, and the Head of the Czech Diplomatic Academy, Věra Jeřábková. All the participants were warmly welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavský. The following presentations focused on the current challenges that we face in Europe and globally, reflecting the title of this EDP edition. In parallel, the EU Training Directors and representatives of the EEAS BHR.4 Division held a joint meeting to share experience and exchange views on new methods and strategies in the field of Learning and Development.

The European Diplomatic Programme, launched in 1999, is a flagship training programme of the EU and MS. It annually represents a unique learning opportunity to 75 junior diplomats of EU Member States and officials from EU institutions taking part  in a varied programme spread into four modules over a period of an academic year. The EDP creates a learning environment in which the participants develop their core diplomatic skills, have open discussions on the most relevant foreign policy topics and create a European network from which they benefit the rest of their careers. The call for nominations is launched by the EEAS (BHR.4) every year usually at the beginning of July, by sending invitations for applications to the Diplomatic Academies of the EU Member States, to the European Commission, the General Secretariat of the Council and to all Directorates of the EEAS. The selection of participants lies with the EEAS Human Resources Director. The first module (2 days) takes place in October or November in the MS holding the EU Presidency, the second module takes place in January or February in small groups of participants in all Member States (2-3 days), the third module is organised by the EEAS in March or April in Brussels (1 week) and the fourth module takes place in June in the MS holding the EU presidency (2 days). At the end of the closing module, the young diplomats, who did not miss more than one module, are awarded the EDP certificate.