History
In September 2007, the Spanish Minister of Defence announced to the mass media his decision to put on offer a Counter Improvised Explosive Devices Centre of Excellence (C-IED COE), to serve as an international touchstone in the counter terrorism struggle. The main intention was not only contribute to the overall well being of troops involved in any operation but to the security of the allies. Towards the end of 2007, the Spanish Chief of Defence, through the Allied Command of Transformation, formally offered to NATO a multinational Counter-IED COE. Later on, in 2008, the Transformation Command confirmed that the future COE concept fully met with Allied principles.
The initial project became reality and now the C-IED COE will be part of the COE network and will support the NATO Command Arrangements, although Centres of Excellence are not a part of the NATO Command Structure. In June 2010, the first six countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding in Norfolk, Virginia: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain.
Prior to join the NATO COEs community, ACT had to certify that the facilities, quality and level of readiness offered to the allies matched the NATO standards. C-IED COE should face up the final phase of the accreditation process in October 2010. Less than a month later, 10th November 2010, NATO Council signed the final accreditation of the C-IED COE, being the fastest process in ACT history.
By the beginning of 2011, Hungary, Turkey and the United States started their joining procedure. Hungary signed the MOUs on 9th February 2011. On 25th March was the United States turn, and Turkey is still in its process to. However, the C-IED COE is still open to more contributing nations, as other interested countries have already knocked at the Centre’s door.