The European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management (CoE) is a member-based association located in Berlin. It was established in February 2020 following an invitation to all European Union (EU) Member States by the German Federal Foreign Office. It operates with a focus on enhancing capabilities to strengthen civilian crisis management in the framework of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP).
The Centre is a service provider, supporting its currently 23 members (EU Member States) and the European External Action Service (EEAS), preferred partner of the CoE, in implementing their commitments under the Civilian CSDP Compact. NATO, represented by its International Staff, is also a preferred partner of the CoE. Preferred partnership of both, the EEAS and NATO IS, is rooted in the EU’s comprehensive approach to external conflict and crises as well as in acknowledging that civil-military cooperation is essential to sustainably maintain peace and security. Hence, membership to the CoE is in principle open to all EU Member States and NATO Allies. Decisions on membership are unanimously made by the members.