European Diplomatic Academy

The European Diplomatic Academy (formally European Union Diplomatic Academy^[2]) is a diplomatic training programme launched by the European External Action Service in 2022 after the proposal made by the European Parliament in 2021,^[3] with the goal of building a fully-fledged European Union diplomatic corps that can promote EU foreign policy and external interests.^[1] It is run by the College of Europe.^[4]

Beyond technical training, the academy’s core philosophy is to transition from a "hybrid" diplomacy toward a truly autonomous European service. A primary driver for this shift is the need to eliminate geographical biases within EU delegations, avoiding the tendency to deploy national diplomats based on historical colonial or regional ties, such as Iberian diplomats in Latin America or French officials in Africa. The goal is a unified European project. By moving away from the temporary "secondment" of national staff, the academy seeks to establish a system of direct recruitment. This evolution aims to foster a shared "European esprit de corps", creating a professional diplomatic culture that prioritizes common EU interests over individual national agendas.^[5]

The pilot project^[6] "Towards the creation of a European Diplomatic Academy", whose author is Nacho Sánchez Amor, was presented by this MEP in April 2021 to the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET). The proposal was evaluated by the European Commission and the European External Action Service and confirmed that, after certain modifications, the project could be implemented. In September 2021, MEP Nacho Sánchez Amor, within the framework of his work on a broader review of the EU's External Action,^[7] submitted the proposal through the European Parliament Report on the EU Annual Budget 2022.^[8][9]

Currently in its pilot programme stage, from September 2022 until May 2023, its participants are trained on EU foreign and security policies with practical and theoretical training modules.^[10] At the start of the programme, a two-week study trip to the EU's Eastern border provides first-hand contact with the reality of a security and refugee crisis through visits to Frontex, UNHCR, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and visits to the border with Ukraine and Belarus.^[4] A first group of 42 young diplomats was selected and sent from the EU member states, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Turkey, the Western Balkans countries and EU institutions to participate in the project.^[11] The first Director of the Academy, with the overall responsibility for the design of the programme, is Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe.^[4]

Following the initial pilot phase (2022–2023), which hosted 42 diplomats, the program has consistently expanded its reach. By mid-2024, the academy welcomed its fourth cohort, maintaining a steady intake of approximately 30 young professionals per semester. Selection remains highly competitive. Unlike the student body of the College of Europe, these participants are active diplomats nominated by their respective national foreign ministries or EU institutions. The demographics have also broadened to include a significant percentage of diplomats from candidate countries, particularly from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Georgia, aiming to harmonize diplomatic standards across the European neighborhood before future accessions.^[12]

The European Institute of Public Administration, the European University Institute, and the Centre for European Policy Studies are running a feasibility study for the establishment of a permanent European Diplomatic Academy.^[1]

On 23 March 2022, Nacho Sánchez Amor submitted a proposal for the extension of the pilot project for another year and, following the evaluation by the European External Action Service, the extension was introduced and approved within the 2023 EU Annual Budget Report.^[13]

By 2024, the academy moved beyond its initial testing phase as the Council of the European Union began formal deliberations to establish the academy as a permanent entity. A key component of this transition involved a specialized study to redefine its target groups. Unlike the pilot phase, which focused primarily on active national diplomats, the permanent model explored opening enrollment to individuals not currently affiliated with national foreign ministries but aspiring to join the EU’s diplomatic service directly. The expansion was a strategic necessity. This period also saw the introduction of dedicated residency programs for young diplomats from candidate countries, aiming to resolve logistical hurdles and ensure that the future "European diplomatic corps" is both inclusive and representative of the Union's expanding geopolitical reach.^[5]

In December 2025, the Belgian police, on instructions by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and a Belgian investigating magistrate, raided the College of Europe premises in Bruges as well as the headquarters of the European External Action Service in Brussels as part of an investigation into suspected fraud related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats. The EPPO alleges that the College of Europe had prior knowledge that it would be attributed the bid to host the EDA and purchased a new property based on this prior expectation. The rector, Federica Mogherini, as well as an EU official were detained as part of the investigation. ^[14][15]