Competed Strategic Decision Making for Crisis Response Operations Course
Date: (28-11-2025)
The CMDR COE successfully concluded its residential course on Strategic Decision Making for Crisis Response Operations, held from 24–28 November 2025. The one week-long programme brought together a diverse group of participants and experts from Europe, reflecting the european relevance of effective crisis response.
Designed and delivered by CMDR COE specialists, the course provided a comprehensive platform for strengthening critical thinking and enhancing strategic decision-making skills in complex and high-pressure environments.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in interactive syndicate work, immersive discussions, and scenario-based tasks that encouraged collaborative analysis and knowledge sharing. The programme also featured meticulously developed strategic practical decision-making exercises that challenged attendees to apply theoretical frameworks to realistic crisis situations.
By exploring multiple perspectives and working through fictional yet highly relevant crisis scenarios, participants refined their ability to navigate uncertainty and make informed strategic choices.
The CMDR COE extends its appreciation to all participants for their engagement and commitment, contributing to the continued development of crisis response expertise within the wider international community.
News
CMDR COE FEBRUARY Forthcoming events- In 3-7 of February experts from the CMDR COE team will take part in the Final Planning Conference of the SABER GUARDIAN ′14 Exercise, organized by the US EUCOM and BGR LANDFORCE.
The purpose of the exercise is to train and educate civilian and military participants in planning and conducting an UN mandated Chapter VII Peace Operation/Crisis Response Operation, based on a Comprehensive Approach, and focusing on co-operation and co-ordination within an unstable environment, involving all stakeholders. The principal exercise focus is the civilian-military cooperation and coordination. The scenario supports exercising a wide range of peace operations functions (e.g. rule of law, humanitarian, etc.). The CMDR COE will contribute to achieving the exercise objectives by providing subject matter expert support in the CMDR area and by organizing distributed point for White cell.
- In 11-13 February 2014 the Civil-Military Interaction: Disaster Preparedness and Response Workshop will take place in Sofia. The workshop is sponsored by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria and the CMDR COE. The workshop comprises lectures dedicated to NATO and EU Crisis Management, role of military in civil security, risk management, as well as discussions and tabletop exercise.
Internal CMDR COE Seminar on the Crisis in SyriaThe CMDR COE organised an internal seminar which was held on 20.12.2013. The main focus of the seminar was the crisis in Syria. The CMDR COE experts discussed issued related to the chronology of the crisis; the increased influx of refugees to neighbouring countries and Bulgaria; the positions of NATO, the UN and EU; the involvement of international humanitarian organisations etc.
» read more
Visualizing Implications of Climate Change on Military Activities and Relationships was conductedOn 11-12 December 2013, the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) co-hosted together with US European Command (USEUCOM) and the US embassy in Bulgaria the workshop Visualizing Implications of Climate Change on Military Activities and Relationships. The opening remarks were given by the Deputy Minister of Defence of Bulgaria, Mr. Ivan Ivanov, who welcomed the participants and underlined the importance of the topics that the workshop focused on.
» read more
