EUDA, the first school for European diplomats, is born

Brussels – Achieving a common foreign policy also depends on the ability of diplomats from the twenty-seven member states to speak the same language and have a common background. That is why today (May 21), the European Council has announced the creation of the first European school for diplomats. It will be called EUDA, short for European Union Diplomatic Academy, and will provide a common ground to all diplomats: those from member states who will work with the European institutions and those who will have to represent the EU.

The courses will be taught in cooperation with the College of Europe, which has been training European officials for years. Euda will work under the supervision and responsibility of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a monitoring committee composed of a representative appointed by each member state and representatives of the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission.

The idea of creating an institute for European diplomats was proposed by the EU Parliament as early as 2021, and after two years of testing, the project has come to life. The purpose of EUDA is to help create European diplomats who possess a deeper understanding of the EU’s principles, goals, values, interests, and global role. To cover the costs of the courses that will run from July 2024 to June 2025, the European Union has provided a budget of about €1.7 million.