About Us
EPLO is the largest European peacebuilding organization of NGOs, think tanks and other civil society organisations working on peacebuilding and the prevention of violent conflict. As a leading civil society platform, we connect our members with EU policymakers to promote effective peacebuilding policies and practices worldwide.
We strive to ensure that the EU plays a key role in preventing conflict and building sustainable peace globally.
EPLO is the largest European network of civil society organisations, think tanks and networks committed to promoting peace and preventing violent conflict. Supported by a secretariat in Brussels, EPLO serves as the primary platform for connecting experts and practitioners with one another and with policymakers, providing a unique, unified entry point for peacebuilding into European policy developments.
Founded in 2001 by 16 organisations, EPLO has grown to represent more than 50 members and has established itself as a key interlocutor within European and international policy spaces. From local to global levels, our member organisations bring specialised knowledge across a wide range of thematic areas and geographic contexts.
EPLO translates members’ expertise into concrete recommendations and practices, supporting the EU and other European actors to deliver more effective, evidence-based contributions to global peace and security.
Our mission
EPLO exists to ensure that the European Union plays a leading and effective role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. We bring together civil society expertise to contribute to EU policy processes and strengthen the EU’s commitment to sustainable peace worldwide, ensuring that the diverse expertise of civil society remains an indispensable force for global peace and security.
Our mission
EPLO envisions a world where the European Union is a leading force for peace, effectively preventing and resolving conflicts through non-violent means and promoting human security for all — with civil society playing a central role in shaping EU peacebuilding policies and practices that are inclusive, effective, and responsive to the needs of conflict-affected communities
Dialogue
EPLO acts as a primary convener of dialogue between practitioners and policymakers, ensuring that policy processes are informed by the lived experiences of people directly affected by conflict.
Expertise and knowledge
EPLO showcases and amplifies the experience and analysis of its member organisations and their partners, providing spaces for information sharing, coordination, and peer-to-peer learning.
Strategic engagement
EPLO engages constructively with European and multilateral institutions by providing the technical support needed to refine policy tools and processes aimed at conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Cross-sectoral collaboration
EPLO fosters collaboration across sectors, connecting humanitarian, development, peace, security, climate and other actors to support European external action that is integrated, comprehensive and sustainable.
Equity and inclusion
EPLO ensures all its actions centre the leadership of diverse women, youth, and marginalised groups, addressing unequal power structures and root causes of inequality and discrimination.
General Assembly
EPLO’s General Assembly is the organisation’s decision-making body, meeting once a year. Every member organisation holds one seat. It approves strategic plans, elects the Steering Committee, and decides on membership and working group structures.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee consists of five to seven members elected for two-year terms. Members contribute their professional expertise on a voluntary basis and work in the collective interest of EPLO and all its members, meeting at least four times a year.