The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) is an autonomous EU body under the overall responsibility of the HR/VP,[1] that provides training and education at EU level in the field of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), which is part of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

In line with the Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515[2] of 19 October 2020 establishing a European Security and Defence College (ESDC), the ESDC shall provide training and education in the field of the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in the wider context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) at European level, in order to develop and promote a common understanding of CSDP and CFSP among civilian and military personnel, and to identify and disseminate best practice in relation to various CSDP and CFSP issues through its training and education activities (‘ESDC training and education activities’).

[3] Under the auspices of the Greek Presidency in 2002 and at the initiative of France and Germany, the concept of 'common training' was introduced.

The idea behind this was to develop a European security culture by providing equipped personnel both in the EU Member States and within the EU institutions.

The ESDC's Military Erasmus programme, formally the European initiative for the exchange of young officers, aims to instil a common security and defence culture in young European officers and thereby amplifying interoperability between armed forces.