The Department of Public International Law and International Relations at Miguel Hernández University organised, with funding from the General Secretariat for Defense Policy of the Ministry of Defense (Order of 18 July 2025), the XIII Course on Security and Defense: Spain’s role in the defense of Europe.

The activity, coordinated by Prof. Dr Elena Crespo Navarro, UMH Jean Monnet Chair ReinforcEU holder, took place on October 13 and 14, 2025, in classroom 0.7 of the Altabix Building (Elche Campus).

The course consisted of two round tables. The FIRST ROUND TABLE titled Facing security challenges and threats in the current strategic context. Strengthening European Defense was held on Monday, October 13 and featured Prof. Dr. Carlos Jiménez Piernas, Full Professor of Public International Law and International Relations at the University of Alcalá, and Mr. Javier Irazoqui González, diplomat and analyst in the Geopolitics Department of DICOES at the Ministry of Defense. The round table was moderated by Prof. Dr. Elena Crespo Navarro, Associate Professor of Public International Law and International Relations at Miguel Hernández University.

The SECOND ROUND TABLE took place on Tuesday, October 14, under the title Spain’s role in European Union military operations. The panellists included Colonel Fernando Bueno Caballero, Air and Space Force, analyst in the Geopolitics Department of DICOES at the Ministry of Defense, and Captain Navy Rafael Torrecillas del Prado, Naval Commander of Alicante. The round table was moderated by Prof. Dr. Jaume Ferrer Lloret, Full Professor of Public International Law and International Relations at the University of Alicante.

The main goal of the activity was to promote, among civil society, (particularly within the university community), knowledge, debate and reflection on the work of the Spanish Armed Forces and their vital importance in guaranteeing the defense of our country within an international context of peace and security. It also aimed to encourage reflection on the various challenges and threats to security in the current strategic context, the tools available to address them, as well as on the need to enhance shared security by strengthening cooperation and alliances. Additionally, the course sought to raise awareness of the work carried out by Spanish military operations abroad, highlighting their importance in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace restoration, and post-conflict stabilization; to improve public understanding of the objectives, functioning and on-the-ground activities of international missions; and to contribute to building a culture of defense by fostering dialogue between representatives of the civil and military administrations and society at large.

The activity was aimed at university students, especially those enrolled in the Degree in Law (full-time and part-time), Double Degree in Law and Business Administration (DADE), Degree in Political Science and Public Management and Degree in Journalism, but also open to students from other degrees less commonly exposed to these topics, such as Psychology, Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, and students over 55 years of age from the University’s ‘Sabiex’ Programme, as well as to faculty members and the general public.

A certificate of attendance was issued to those who attended both round tables and requested it.

WATCH VIDEO PRESENTATION:

BROCHURE: Brochure XIII UMH Security and Defence Course 2025

X and Instagram: @JeanMonnetUMH

MORE INFORMATION AT: Website Public International Law and International Relations Area/Defense Courses

Professor Elena Crespo Navarro, Jean Monnet Chair ‘Strengthening the European Union by reinforcing its values (ReinforcEU)’ holder at Miguel Hernández University, participated on October 14, 2025, as moderator of the round table titled ‘Spain’s defense policy in international missions’ within the framework of the XV Course on Security and Defense: The Participation of the Spanish Armed Forces in International Missions, organised by the University Centre for European Studies at the University of Alicante, with funding from the General Secretariat for Defense Policy of the Ministry of Defense and took place on October 14 and 15, 2025, at the Faculty of Law of that University.

See the PROGRAMME XV COURSE ON SECURITY AND DEFENCE UA

UMH Professors Elena Crespo Navarro and Rocío M. Pozo Tomás, Jean Monnet ReinforcEU Chair team members, participated on October 6, 2025, in the Global UMH Radio programme, hosted and co-directed by Pablo Aliaga and Pedro Sáez (technical control).

During the programme, we discussed the UMH Jean Monnet Chair (ReinforcEU) and the various activities carried out within its framework, as well as the importance and implications of our country’s membership in the European Union (EU). We also analysed some of the challenges faced by the EU and the opportunities it offers to its citizens, especially to young people.

The program is available on SPOTIFY

UMH Professor Elena Crespo Navarro and Professor Francisco Pascual Vives, from the University of Alcalá and Director of IELAT, both members of the Jean Monnet ReinforcEU Chair team, participated on October 22, 2025, in the international seminar “Relations between Latin America and the European Union in light of the MERCOSUR Agreement”.

The activity was organised within the framework of the I+D+i project PID2023-149020NB-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU.

LINK TO THE SEMINAR PROGRAMME – MERCOSUR 22 October 2025

Professors from the Department of Public International Law and International Relations, and members of the Jean Monnet Chair ReinforcEU, Elena Crespo Navarro, Adela Rodríguez Mañogil and Rocío M. Pozo Tomás, participated in the Introductory Human Rights Training Course, organised by the Ibero-American Institute for Training and Learning of the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI), with the module entitled The Right to Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination.

The module was delivered online throughout September and October 2025.

More information: https://oei.int/cursos/curso-de-formacion-en-derechos-humanos/