This CSDN Discussion Paper examines what the ongoing restructuring of the EU Delegation network means for civil society engagement on peace and security. The new publication looks at how a shift towards regional hubs could affect the EU’s ability to consult meaningfully with civil society organisations in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
The paper traces the rationale behind the restructuring, from a leaked 2024 EEAS proposal to the phased downsizing of eleven delegations to a “minimal diplomatic presence.” It sets this against a wider context of shrinking civic space and the withdrawal of US support for civil society globally, arguing that the EU is well placed to take on a stronger role in defending civil society space, particularly where its own presence is reduced.
Drawing on interviews with EU officials and civil society actors, alongside a detailed case study of EU engagement in Syria, the paper identifies what has made consultation work well in complex, fast-changing environments, from long-term relationship-building and careful selection of interlocutors, to the risks of civil society becoming co-opted or sidelined as political circumstances shift.
The paper closes with nine recommendations for EU Delegations and the EEAS, covering trust-building, accessibility, knowledge management and the limits of digital consultation, aimed at ensuring civil society expertise continues to inform EU peace and security policy as the Delegation network changes shape.
Read the paper to explore what sustained, trusted civil society consultation requires, and what could be lost if it isn’t protected through the restructuring process.
