The Scenario-Based Training at Common Effort creates a realistic environment to explore the challenges of crisis response and civil-military cooperation. With a focus on NATO’s eastern flank, participants are guided through escalating scenarios that simulate hybrid threats and conflict build-up. Working in planning teams, they face dilemmas that test coordination, information sharing, and joint decision-making. Each phase ends with reflection, turning the exercise into a valuable learning experience and a stepping stone towards larger, full-scale exercises.

The panel discussions at Common Effort bring together diverse perspectives on today’s most pressing security challenges, highlighting different dimensions of resilience and preparedness. They address the role of military readiness in safeguarding stability, the importance of civil preparedness and protecting vital societal functions, and conclude with a forward-looking debate on “Roads to Resilience,” exploring how civil, military, academic, and private actors can strengthen cooperation to meet future crises. Through these dialogues, the panels create space for reflection, exchange, and the development of fresh ideas, ensuring that all domains are connected in building collective security.