Estonian expert Tarmo Terep has taken up his post as Internal Security Education Adviser with the EU civilian mission in Ukraine. His role is to support the implementation of Ukraine’s education reform and share best practices for developing education structures in line with European standards. Before joining the civilian mission in Ukraine, Terep served as Strategic Adviser on Civilian Crisis Management Structures with the EU civilian mission in Moldova. Prior to that, he was Head of the Crisis Management and Fire Safety Department at the Rescue College of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences.
The EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine focuses on supporting civilian security sector reform and providing strategic advice to the government authorities responsible for the sector. Following the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, EU member states entrusted the mission with additional tasks: supporting the Ukrainian authorities on border management and providing advice on the investigation of war crimes and other international crimes.
Expert Liisa Past has taken up the role of Head of the Strategic Advisory Unit at the new EU Partnership Mission in Armenia. Her role is to support the Armenian authorities in developing systems, institutions and capabilities related to hybrid threats, including information operations and cybersecurity.
Past is an internationally experienced cybersecurity and hybrid threats expert whose work has focused on strengthening the resilience of the digital backbone of democracy, state institutions and organisations of critical importance. She has held senior positions at the Government Office, the Centre for Information Technology and Development of the Ministry of the Interior (SMIT), and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, where she led Estonia’s national cybersecurity policy. Past has worked on digitalisation, cybersecurity and the protection of democratic processes across four continents. She has studied at Columbia University in New York, the University of Oslo and the University of Tartu, and was a fellow at the McCain Institute, focusing on the cybersecurity of technologies that support democracies and elections.
The European Union Advisory Mission in Armenia aims to strengthen the country’s resilience to evolving hybrid threats, such as foreign information manipulation and interference, cyberattacks and illicit financial flows.
Estonia deploys experts to international civilian missions to help prevent and manage international conflicts. Estonian experts are currently serving on European Union civilian missions in Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and Iraq. A total of eight experts deployed by Estonia are currently serving on international civilian missions. The participation of Estonian experts in civilian missions is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read more about civilian missions: Estonia’s participation in civilian missions | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
