The EU-NATO CIMIC Course is a pilot training activity developed by the CCOE – appointed in 2017 as the European Union Discipline Leader for CIMIC – under the aegis of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), with the support of the EU Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC).
Designed for civilian and military personnel involved in CIMIC activities, the course offers a comparative overview of EU and NATO structures, procedures and approaches to CIMIC, addressing the critical need for greater awareness and shared understanding.
By clarifying each organization’s mandate, command structures, doctrine and operational procedures, the course aims to enhance mutual comprehension, helping to build trust, prevent duplication, and foster synergy in multinational and multi-agency environments.
Through interactive lectures, case studies, and scenario-based exercises, participants acquire practical competences to conduct effective CIMIC activities in complex environments, strengthening interoperability, coherence, and overall effectiveness.
Language proficiency: Students must meet the following standards of proficiency in English (as described in STANAG 6001):
Officers: listening – good/3, speaking – good/3, reading – good/3, writing – fair/2 or civilian equivalents
Non-commissioned officers: listening – good/2, speaking – good/2, reading – good/2, writing – fair/1 or civilian equivalents
The EU-NATO CIMIC Course is a pilot training activity scheduled to take place from 04 to 08 May 2026 at the CCOE in The Hague, The Netherlands.
As a pilot course, this iteration will serve to assess the course content, methodology, and overall effectiveness. Future iterations of the course will be subject to evaluation and approval based on the outcomes and lessons learned from this pilot.
As with all ESDC courses, there is no course fee for participating in the EU-NATO CIMIC Course. All travel, accommodation, and catering expenses must be covered by the sending authorities.
Applications for the EU-NATO CIMIC Course must be submitted through the ESDC secure internet system ENLIST by designated nominators at https://esdc.europa.eu/enlist/login no later than 22 March 2026. Interested candidates are invited to consult the list of designated nominators at https://www.esdc.europa.eu/course-nominators_en to identify the appropriate nominator for their Member State, institution, mission, or operation, and to contact them by email to express their interest, including the course number 25-26/PILOT/14 in their message.
The registration procedure will close on 27 March 2026, and registration will only be considered final once confirmed by the ESDC Secretariat and the nominated participant has completed the ENLIST registration form.
