News and Events
The EU as an Agent in International Peace Mediation: a 'Sleeping Beauty'? New article in the 'Konfliktdynamik'
21 January 2012
In this article published in the first edition of the new journal 'Konfliktdynamik', Dr. Herrberg discusses the emergence of international peace mediation as a new field of activity in international relations, and relates it to the role played in the process by the European Union. It also sheds light on the structural development of international peace mediation and the challenges associated with it:
The European Union is the largest international donor and the most successful supra-national peace project. The Lisbon Treaty laid the foundations for an enhancement of the EU’s role in peace mediation, in connection with a joint foreign and security policy for the member states. An EU strategy for mediation and dialogue capacities adopted by the EU Presidency in 2009 recognises the strategic benefit of peace mediation for the EU.
The EU has a broad range of possibilities at its disposal to encourage and implement international peace mediation and supporting measures. However, the establishment and implementation of mediation in the context of European foreign and security policy depends on factors such as leadership, expertise, strategy, coordination and coherence. Support from a European Institute for Peace might prove to be of crucial value.
The first edition of the journal 'Konfliktdynamik' was published by the Klett-Cotta Verlag in January 2012. It is the first German-language journal to focus exclusively on conflict management in organisations.
