Brussels, Belgium – 24-25 NOV 2025
On November 24-25, EPRC participated in the Annual Training and Education Conference (ATEC) organized by the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), engaging with military, police, diplomatic, and civilian training institutes from across EU Member States. The conference provided a strategic platform to exchange best practices and explore synergies with training providers across Europe.
The highlight came on November 26, when EPRC presented its groundbreaking Training Requirements Analysis (TRA) for Personnel Recovery at the joint meeting of the EU Civilian Training Group (EUCTG) and EU Military Training Group (EUMTG). This presentation establishes a comprehensive, integrated approach to training both civilian and military personnel across the EU.
Understanding the Key Organizations
The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) operates as a network of approximately 270 national training institutes providing education in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), promoting common understanding among civilian and military personnel.
The EU Civilian Training Group (EUCTG) coordinates and harmonizes training activities related to civilian crisis management, identifying training requirements and promoting best practices among EU Member States.
The EU Military Training Group (EUMTG) manages requirements for CSDP military training, proposing strategic priorities and coordinating military training through Training Requirements Analysis processes.
The Four-Course Personnel Recovery Framework
The TRA presented by EPRC outlines an innovative four-course framework addressing comprehensive training needs for Personnel Recovery across civilian and military domains. This integrated approach recognizes that PR operations require seamless coordination between civilian diplomatic efforts and military operational capabilities.
The four courses cover the complete spectrum:
- JPR Staff Course – Competencies for staff officers and civilian coordinators deployed in crisis areas or CSDP missions
- APROC – Specialized training for personnel executing recovery operations
- JPR Staff Course Recurrent– Advanced training for tactical operations centers
- Reintegration PR Debriefer Course – Qualifying PR Debriefers within a reintegration team
This curriculum addresses identified gaps in EU training provision, ensuring personnel deployed in CSDP missions have the necessary knowledge and skills for effective Personnel Recovery operations.
Strategic Impact
The presentation of the Personnel Recovery TRA carries significant implications for the EU’s ability to protect personnel deployed in crisis management operations. By establishing standardized training requirements and creating clear pathways for personnel to develop PR competencies, the EU is building a more resilient crisis management architecture.
The collaboration between EPRC, EUCTG, EUMTG, and ESDC demonstrates the effectiveness of the EU’s networked approach to training development, creating a model for how capability centres contribute to broader institutional priorities.
As the EU continues to deploy civilian and military missions worldwide, the need for robust Personnel Recovery capabilities grows increasingly urgent. The framework presented in Brussels provides a roadmap for ensuring all personnel deployed under the EU flag have access to comprehensive PR training appropriate to their roles.
EPRC’s successful engagement reinforces its status as Europe’s premier Personnel Recovery hub and demonstrates the value of specialized capability centres working in coordination with EU institutions. Through continued collaboration, EPRC is building a European Personnel Recovery architecture that protects the lives of those who serve in Europe’s name—truly embodying the principle that “others may live”.
“That others may live”
