Brussels, 29/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Ministers of EU Member States gave its agreement on Monday 27 June to the creation of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC). The idea was decided on during the Thessalonica European Council in June 2003. The purpose of the ESDC is to contribute to forging a European security culture, identifying and promoting training and best practices in CFSP. The ESDC will be organised as a network of national academies, colleges and institutions in the EU that deal with security and defence policy. The European Union's Security Studies Institute (SSI) will be part of it. Led by a management committee in which all the EU Member States will be represented, and advised by an academic body that will oversee the quality and consistency of courses, the College will also be supported by a permanent secretariat. This secretariat will be provided by the Secretariat General of the Council of the European Union in Brussels and will be fully operational by 1 January 2006. Until then the Secretariat of the Council will be in charge of ensuring the operations of the ESDC.