On March 10, 2026, a meeting took place between Ihor Ostash, Director of the Diplomatic Academy, and Fergal O’Regan, President of the European Security and Defense College.

The parties discussed the possibility of engaging trainers and instructors from the network of institutions of the European Security and Defense College (ESDC) to teach short-term professional seminars and training sessions for DAU students and long-term courses for prospective master’s program students.

The ESDC is a separate EU body that provides training and education in the field of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy. In its activities, the ESDC relies on the administrative structures and resources of the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The ESDC operates as a network comprising civilian and military educational institutions from EU member states and partner countries—institutes, academies, universities, and centers of excellence. Network members offer courses within the framework of the CSDP for staff of EU institutions. Institutions from third countries, candidate countries, and international organizations may obtain the status of an associate partner of the network, which allows them to participate in specific ECDI training activities.

Eighteen Ukrainian institutions hold the status of associate members of the ECBA network, including the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine.

The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Director Iryna Ivashchuk, Deputy Director Kateryna Sydorenko, Head of the Vocational Training Center Oleksii Shovkoplias, and EBCO Executive Director Alberto Giovanni Bragadin.