Peacebuilding and EU Institutions and Policies

The main objective of EPLO’s work on EU Institutions and Policies is to ensure that conflict prevention and peacebuilding are prominent within the policies and structures of EU external affairs. Areas of work include the Common Security and Foreign Policy (CFSP), including Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions, the institutional development of the EEAS, EU development policies and practices, as well as the implementation of EU’s comprehensive/integrated approach to conflicts and crises.

For more information about these areas of work, please contact the EPLO office.

Recent Activities

On 17 March 2022, EPLO organised a CSDN policy meeting entitled ‘The role of social media in preventing electoral violence: Perspectives from civil society‘. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.
On 13-14 January 2022, EPLO organised a CSDN policy meeting entitled ‘The EU’s Implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda: Gathering Young Experts’ Recommendations‘. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.

2021

On 17 September 2021, EPLO organised a CSDN policy meeting entitled ‘20 years after the Gothenburg Programme: What next for the EU as a Global Peace Actor?‘. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.
On 4 October 2021, EPLO published a statement entitled ‘The European Peace Facility: Minimising Significant Risks in Implementation‘.
On 29 June 2021, EPLO organised a CSDN policy meeting entitled ‘How can peacebuilding actors counter disinformation? Perspectives from civil society‘. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.
On 27 April 2021, EPLO co-organised an event with Frieden und Entwicklung (FriEnt) entitled ‘The EU and conflict prevention – What next after the German Council Presidency’. Click here to access the event page.
On 16 March 2021, EPLO organised a meeting with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security/ Vice President of the European Commission (HR/VP) Josep Borrell entitled ‘Exchange of views on the EU and conflict prevention – From policy to practice’.
On 3-4 March 2021, EPLO organised a CSDN policy meeting entitled ‘The EU Concept on Cultural Heritage as a component for peace and security in conflict and crisis zones: Gathering civil society input.’ Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.
On 17-18 February 2021, EPLO organised a CSDN policy meeting entitled ‘Towards a new EU strategic approach to support DDR: Gathering input from civil society’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.

2020

On 7-8 October 2020, EPLO organised a policy meeting entitled ‘Preventing Election-related Violence: Analysis from Civil Society’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.
On 4 November 2020, EPLO organised a policy meeting entitled ‘Peace Mediation Guidelines: Expert working meeting’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event.
On 12 June 2020, EPLO hosted a virtual informal briefing on technical safeguards for the proposed European Peace Facility (EPF).
On 14 May 2020, EPLO organised a policy meeting entitled ‘Capacity building of military actors in support of development and security for development (CBSD) 2018-2020: Informal exchange of views with international non-governmental organisations (INGOs)’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report and the presentation by the evaluation team.
On 27 February 2020, EPLO sent a letter on the proposed ‘European Peace Facility’ to all members of the Political and Security Committee (PSC).
On 20 February 2020, EPLO organised a policy meeting entitled ‘Strengthening the EU’s Role in Mediation’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.
On 24 January 2020, EPLO hosted an informal roundtable with Saferworld, PAX and delegates to the Council Working Party on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM) on the proposed European Peace Facility (EPF).

2019

2018

On 3 December 2018, EPLO organised a policy meeting entitled ‘EU support to Transitional Justice: A Review three years after the adoption of the policy framework’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.
On 17 October 2018, EPLO organised a policy meeting entitled ‘Reviewing the EU’s conflict analysis practices – gathering civil society input’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.
On 10 July 2018, EPLO organised a CSDN training seminar on Peace and conflict analysis for EU officials.
On 25 May 2018, EPLO organised a policy meeting entitled ‘The European Union as a Global Peace Actor: Exchange of views on the EU and conflict prevention’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the summary meeting report.
On 8 May 2018, EPLO published a statement entitled ‘Capacity building in support of development and security for development: Recommendations for implementation’.
On 8 and 9 March 2018, EPLO organised a CSDN training seminar on Peacebuilding Advocacy towards the EU. For more information, you can download the agenda.
On 20 February 2018, EPLO organised a Brown Bag Lunch event entitled ‘Early action and the Responsibility to Protect: exchange of views with civil society’.
On 26 January 2018, EPLO sent a letter on ‘The Integrated Approach: what next after the Council Conclusions?’ to all members of the Political and Security Committee (PSC).

2017

2016 and older

On 12 October 2016, EPLO organised a CSDN meeting on the Strategic Review of the EUAM Mission in Ukraine.
In May 2016, EPLO organised a Brown Bag Lunch Discussion on ‘Practical examples of integrating human rights and gender into CSDP missions: the case of EUPOL COPPS and EUMM Georgia‘
On 13 April 2016, EPLO organised a Member State meeting entitled ‘The EU and the Netherlands’ engagement on fragility: Building on the 2030 Agenda’. Click here for more information about this Civil Society Dialogue Network event and to download the meeting report.

On 4 December 2015, EPLO organised a CSDN meeting on ‘the EU-wide Strategic Framework for Security Sector Reform: Consultation workshop with civil society organisations’. For more information, you can download the meeting report and the key recommendations.
On June 2015, EPLO organised a CSDN meeting on ‘The 2015 Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy: a peacebuilding perspective’. For more information, you can download the meeting report.
On March 2015, EPLO organised a CSDN meeting entitled “The EU and Peacebuilding: Taking Stock”. For more information, you can download the meeting report.
On 12 March 2015, EPLO organised a CSDN meeting entitled ‘Capacity building in support of security and development: Gathering civil society input’. For more information, you can download the meeting report.

On 26 February 2013, EPLO was invited to speak at a roundtable discussion on the review of the EEAS organised by The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament. Click here to download the agenda.
On 30 January 2013, EPLO organised a CSDN meeting entitled ‘The EU’s Comprehensive Approach to External Action: Gathering Civil Society Input‘ in Brussels. Click here to download the final agenda and meeting report for this Civil Society Dialogue Network event.

On 4 December 2012, EPLO together with its French member organisation ESSEC IRENÉ organised a conference entitled ‘Towards a comprehensive approach in EU external action: the role of France / Vers une approche globale de l’action extérieure de l’Union européenne: le rôle de la France‘ which took place in Paris, France. Fore more information, you can download the agenda of the meeting (in French), the key recommendations (in French) and the meeting report (in French) of this Civil Society Dialogue Network event.
On 23 November 2012, EPLO organised a panel discussion on ‘EU External Action: Longer-term scenarios and opportunities for reform’. Click here to download the meeting agenda.
On 11 September 2012, EPLO organised a roundtable entitled ‘The European Union as a Peace Project: Defending, learning from and applying our history’. Click here to download the meeting agenda.
On 2 May 2012, EPLO published a briefing paper on CFSP structures and instruments after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Click here to download the document.
On 13 March 2012, EPLO together with its Spanish member organisation Toledo International Centre for Peace (CITpax) organised a conference entitled ‘EU Common Foreign and Security Policy as a Peacebuilding Tool‘ which took place in Madrid, Spain. For more information, you can download the final agenda, the key recommendations and the meeting report of this Civil Society Dialogue Network event.

On 6 December 2011, the Working Group on Peace and Development (FriEnt) and EPLO organised an expert roundtable discussion entitled ‘Towards a Strategic Framework for European Union Support to Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding?’ which took place in Berlin. Click here to download the invitation and here to read a report of the discussion (only available in German).
On 7 November 2011, EPLO together with its French member organisation ESSEC IRENÉ organised a panel discussion entitled ‘Assessing the Peacebuilding Potential of CFSP and CSDP after the Lisbon Treaty’ which took place in Paris, France. For more information, you can download the final agenda, the key points and the meeting report of this Civil Society Dialogue Network event.
On 21 June 2011, EPLO organised a meeting on Women, Peace and Security in EU Common Security and Defence Policy Missions and Operations. For more information, you can download the background paper, the final agenda, the meeting report and the key recommendations of this Civil Society Dialogue Network event.
On 16 May 2011, EPLO organised a panel discussion on EU Support for Security Sector Reform. For more information, you can download the final agenda, the outcome document and the key recommendations of this Civil Society Dialogue Network event.
On 14 March 2011, EPLO was invited to provide evidence in a hearing at the German Bundestag on experiences and perspective of NGOs regarding civilian conflict prevention. Click here for the agenda of the hearing and here to download EPLO’s written contribution (both documents are only available in German).
On 7 February 2011, EPLO together with its Finnish member organisations CMI and KATU organised a conference on ‘Conflict Prevention and the European Union‘ which took place in Helsinki, Finland. For more information, you can download the final agenda, the meeting report and a summary report of this Civil Society Dialogue Network event.

On 9-10 December 2010, EPLO organised a two-day seminar on civil society analysis of EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions. This meeting was attended by approximately 15 participants, mainly representatives of local civil society organisations from areas where CSDP missions are or have been deployed and international civil society organisations.
In August 2010, EPLO published a study on co-operation between civil society organisations and two of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy missions (EULEX in Kosovo and EUPOL COPPS in the Palestinian Territories). Click here to download EPLO’s publication entitled Accountability and Effectiveness of CSDP Missions: The Role of Civil Society (June 2010).
On 29 June 2010, EPLO, the Parlamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security and the office of Heidi Hautala MEP jointly organised a panel discussion on ‘Conflict Prevention and the European External Action Service’ in the European Parliament in Brussels. Click here to download an article about the event by Heidi Hautala MEP. Click here to download a report of the event from the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security.
On 27 April 2010, EPLO and EPLO member organisations Saferworld, Kvinna till Kvinna and the Kosovar Nansen Dialogue organised a civil society seminar on the draft study on CSDP missions in Pristina.
On 18 March 2010, EPLO’s Executive Director, Catherine Woollard, gave a presentation to the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights on EPLO’s recommendations for the establishment of the EEAS. Click here to watch the presentation (starts at 10:24:23).
On 8 February 2010, EPLO hosted its second roundtable meeting on the EEAS. Click here to download a report of the meeting.