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Welcome to CESS

The Centre for European Security Studies is an independent non-governmental organisation based in the north of the Netherlands. From our tiny office in the old university town of Groningen, we run programmes that focus on democracy in the realm of defence and security. Our mission is to promote transparent, accountable and effective government in the security sector. In pursuit of this aim, we conduct research, provide policy advice, hold debates, organise roundtable discussions and offer training courses. We are able to carry out such a wide range of activities thanks to the co-operation of a wide network experts and partners, mostly based in Europe. The results of these collaborative efforts are presented here under the headings publications and events. Our work is also made possible by the support of governmental and independent sponsors.

News

Moldovan Parliamentarians visit Den Haag

Published on 2008-06-10

From 18 to 21 April 2008 a Moldovan delegation of elected members of parliament visited The Hague for the concluding seminar in the Moldovan Parliamentary Program, which was held to present and discuss the main conclusions of the draft Expert Report. After arrival on the 18th, the delegation was given the opportunity to relax during a sea-sight lunch on the beach of Scheveningen. In the evening the seminar was officially opened with drinks and dinner at the famous Kurhaus.

From Groningen to Belgrade: A Winter Course

Published on 2008-02-15

From 21 January until 1 February 2008, CESS organized a two week Winter Course called New Challenges in Security: Trends, Lessons and Developments in cooperation with the universities of Belgrade and Groningen. In these two weeks a mixed audience of Belgrade University students and cadets from the Military Academy attended lectures on International Military Cooperation, Humanitarian Intervention, Civil Military Relations, the European Defence and Security Policy and NATO. The course was developed in close cooperation with Dr Sipke de Hoop of the University of Groningen, and it is sponsored by the Netherlands Embassy to Serbia.

Foreign Ministry in The Hague Hosts STARLINK Conference

Published on 2008-01-24

On 13 December 2007 CESS organised the conference called Democratic Governance in the Security Sector: Lessons of the STARLINK Programme in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. This was the climax of a programme which for two years provided transitional countries with training programmes for democratic reform in their security sector. About 100 CESS partners and other SSR experts gathered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague. They came from the five Starlink beneficiary countries, neighbouring countries like Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, international organisations like NATO and the OSCE, and government departments and research institutes in the Netherlands.

Conference on Peace Support Operations

Published on 2007-12-11

CESS and Bilkent University (Ankara) organized on the 12th and 13th of November 2007 a conference on Peace Support Operations. The organizers of the conference aimed to address new challenges to Peace Support Operations. Distinguished academics, diplomats and the executive branch of government, as well as military officials, were present and shared their experiences. In his key-note speech Lt. Gen. Zorlu, Chief Plans and Policy Division of the Turkish General Staff pointed out that mutual trust and respect between the local people and the peacekeepers is extremely important in any peace support operation. This main lesson has been underscored numerous times during the conference. The participants consider the conference a success. A fruitful and promising cooperation between CESS and Bilkent University has started.

Conference on Democratic Governance in the Security Sector

Published on 2007-10-05

On 13 December 2007 CESS organizes the conference “Democratic Governance in the Security Sector: Lessons of the STARLINK Programme in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine”. This conference is the concluding event of the Starlink programme which aims to support democratic reform of the security sector of transitional countries. The problems of democratic reform in the security sector will be addressed by looking at Starlink’s achievements, its impact, its shortcomings and its potential for further development and wider use. The conference takes place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague and brings together a broad range of security and defence experts from the five Starlink beneficiary countries, neighbouring countries like Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina and Dutch universities, research institutes and international organisations like NATO and the OSCE.

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