As the Civilian Operations Commander for each Mission, the CPCC Managing Director exercises command and control at strategic level for the operational planning and conduct of all civilian crisis management operations.

The Managing Director is assisted by a number of senior policy experts and mission desk officers.

CPCC is composed of the following divisions:

CPCC.1 - Co-ordination and Horizontal Affairs Division

The Division has coordination responsibilities for CPCC in a number of horizontal areas ranging from concepts and policy to knowledge management and lessons learned. 

It ensures the coordination and coherence of the directorate’s output on policy matters and handles relations with other EEAS policy stakeholders in civilian CSDP.

It is the main entry point to CPCC and to civilian CSDP missions for external organisations such as the United Nations and for the Justice & Home Affairs agencies as well as other relevant actors in the Member States. 

The Division is staffed with thematic experts in relevant fields of work, such as Security Sector Reform, Rule of Law, Human Rights, Gender, Security and Environmental impact. 

It makes a broad contribution to policy development in thematic areas based on lessons learned.

The Division is responsible for the implementation at the operational level of the provisions of the Strategic Compass and the Civilian Compact as well as coordinating communication strategy and output for CSDP civilian missions.

It also provides support for improving the working environment and the leadership functions in civilian Missions.

CPCC.2 – Planning and Conduct of Operations Division

The Planning and Conduct of Operations Division is in daily contact with all of the civilian common security and defence policy missions.

The division supports Heads of Mission and mission staff to implement their respective mandates on behalf of the Civilian Operations Commander. It also ensures that the missions comply with the political objectives of EU Foreign Policy.

The Division consists of four Sections. Three sections are organised geographically ((1) Europe, (2) Africa, and (3) Asia/Middle East). They are made up of AD and AST officials, seconded national experts including subject matter experts on policing, rule of law and maritime issues.

The fourth section, the Operational Planning Section, supports operational planning and establishing civilian CSDP missions. It establishes planning teams to develop operational planning documents such as the concept of operation (CONOPS) and operational plan (OPLAN).

The Division is also responsible for the preparation of the revision of the OPLAN for approval by the Council. It also supports missions in all aspects of their start-up phase.

CPCC.3 – Missions Personnel Division

The Division is in charge of the force-generation process for the international personnel of all civilian CSDP missions. It is responsible for the staffing policy and the selection and recruitment processes.

It is also the lead service for the Goalkeeper-Registrar project, the main IT tool for all EU Member States and the EEAS in managing the process of identification, selection, recruitment and deployment of civilian personnel to CSDP missions.

The Division supports the civilian CSDP missions in their human resources related activities, through Points of Contact and Brussels Support Element colleagues.

It works closely with and supports all EU Member States in the development and improvement of their human resources policies and national structures for personnel deployed in CSDP missions.

The division actively pursues an increase in the representation of women among international experts at all levels of the missions and the deployment of experts from all EU Member States.

CPCC.4 - Missions Operational Support Division

The Missions Operational Support Division is responsible for computer information systems, IT applications, cyber security as well as logistics at Headquarters.

The Division manages the delivery of equipment to all civilian CSDP Missions. It also develops human resources and logistics IT applications for the Civilian Missions. 

CPCC.4 is the contact point of the CPCC for the RELEX Working Group of the Council.

CPCC.5 - Security and Duty of Care Division

The work of the Security and Duty of Care Division enables the Civilian Operations Commander to discharge the European Union’s duty of care obligations towards all personnel deployed in Civilian CSDP Mission.

The Division is responsible for policies on security and medical/health matters. It conducts regular assessments and issues recommendations to the Missions on these matters.

A core part of divisional activities is on-the-ground oversight and inspections of security and duty of care arrangements in the Missions’ area of operation.

The staffing consists of Officials supported by seconded experts with a security background, as well as certified and experienced medical professionals.