Analysis on EU peacemaking: the Initiative for Peacebuilding’s ‘Mediation Cluster’

The NGO consortium ‘Initiative for Peacebuilding’ worked between 2009-2011 to provide analysis and advice on improving EU capacities for conflict prevention, crisis management and peacebuilding. Its mediation cluster produced 19 reports as well as video materials of relevance for the creation of an EIP, looking at the EU’s track record and potential in international peace mediation, both thematic and regional.

European Parliament report ‘Establishing the Knowledge Base of a Smart Power: A Blueprint for an EU Institute of Peace’

This briefing explores the added value of a possible EU Institute of Peace, as suggested by Finland and Sweden. It presents various forms in which this could be done, also drawing on the model of the United States Institute of Peace. The suggested institutional solutions are the ‘status quo’ model; building an institute on existing bodies; or the creation of a new institute.

European Parliament report ‘Implementing the EU Concept on Mediation: Learning from the Cases of Sudan and the Great Lakes’

This ad-hoc study argues that the EU can play a significant role in peace mediation and conflict prevention, but it needs to be more coherent and flexible in its approach. It therefore needs to raise awareness of the use of and need for mediation efforts, following up on the 2009 EU Concept on Strengthening Mediation and Dialogue Capacities. The study explores the EU’s track record in this regard through two country case studies, the DRC and Sudan.

EU Concept on Strengthening EU Capacities on Dialogue and Mediation

This document provides the policy framework for the EU on international peace mediation as a foreign policy tool. It presents the EU’s understanding of dialogue and mediation; principles; priorities and plans for implementation. The concept was produced during the Swedish Presidency of the EU in 2009.

Swedish-Finnish ‘Non-Paper’ on the European Institute of Peace (draft)

This non-paper presents the starting point for the Swedish-Finnish initiative on the EIP, communicated to the High Representative Catherine Ashton. It argues for an ‘independent organisation with close links to the EU engaging in mediation and dialogue and providing best practice.’

European Parliament pilot project on the EIP

In 2011, the European Parliament approved a ‘pilot project’ on the EIP. Building on the 2009 Concept on Strengthening EU Mediation and Dialogue Capacities, the pilot project aims at enabling the European External Action Service to ‘explore the feasibility of establishing a European Institute of Peace.’ It is stated that ‘a feasibility study should map the existing capacities, including within the EU institutions, analysing and examining options, and related costs and benefits, to efficiently serve the needs of EU in peace mediation.’

UN General Assembly Resolution ‘Strengthening the role of mediation in peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution’

While not directly linked to the EIP, this resolution is the first of its kind on strengthening mediation internationally, including by regional organisation, and was passed by countries in the UN General Assembly, including EU Member States.

mediatEUr was tasked in 2011 by the Swedish and Finnish Ministries of Foreign Affairs to design and facilitate a process of consultation, analysis and networking in order to generate an ‘options paper’ that presents different perspectives and models for the possible creation of a European Institute of Peace. This project runs until May 2012, and will lead to the submission of an options paper presenting different 'models' for an EIP to the two Ministries.

A full project brief is available here. mediatEUr’s work on this project includes:

Convening an informal ‘Advisory Council' on the EIP

You can view a list of Advisory Council Members and their profiles here. The role and tasks of this Advisory Council are described here.

Designing and piloting ‘building blocks’ for future EIP activities

This includes the convening of thematic roundtables, and the design of innovative activities such as the ‘Debriefing EU Mediators’ series.

Policy dialogue with key stakeholders

This involves bilateral dialogues as well as hosting of meetings with EU institutions and the EU policymaking community.

Enabling a multi-stakeholder dialogue on the EIP

In order to gauge existing views on the EIP, and enable an inclusive and open exchange on the initiative, mediatEUr designed and hosted a multi-stakeholder ‘Open Space’ event, described below. The discussions have been captured by debategraph, and an online dialogue continues via the map below.

Generating a 'Business Model' for the EIP

Together with the project Advisory Council and others, mediatEUr is developing a series of 'business models' that will be included in the final options paper on the EIP. This is done in an interactive format, drawing on the Business Model Generation method.

Open Space on the European Institute of Peace

In January 2012, mediatEUr convened an Open Space event on the EIP, bringing together over 80 participants from EU institutions, member states, civil society, academia, think tanks and the private sector. The discussions and different perspectives on the EIP were captured through 'debategraph' technology, a visual mapping software.

Below you can access the interactive map summarising the discussions. By clicking on the individual bubbles, you can explore the various strands of debate participants engaged in.

You can also join this dialogue and add points to the map. To contribute to the discussion, you can register on the menu below, and then log in to make additions. For further guidance, click the help button on the menu bar on the right-hand side.