Concept Note
EU Community of Practice on Peace Mediation
Brussels/online, 18-19 October 2023

Background

Organised annually since 2019, the EU Community of Practice on Peace Mediation (CoP) has become the flagship EU event that convenes international actors, policy makers, practitioners, experts, and representatives of civil society in the field of peace mediation from around the globe. It allows discussions on mediation and peace process support and enables knowledge-exchange and constructive reflections on challenges and best practices, feeding directly into EU policy and practice. The CoP stimulates peer learning, expands the global peace-building community and inspires creative thinking.

The first CoP took place in person, while the 2020 and 2021 editions took place in a virtual format amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The fourth edition in 2022 was held in a hybrid format, with both physical (in Brussels) and online participation. The hybrid format proved its value added and will be maintained in 2023. The physical component will be maintained in Brussels and act as a mediation-hub during the CoP, convening peace mediation practitioners from all over the world. Since May 2023, a Steering Group convened by the EEAS Conflict Prevention and Mediation Support Division and composed of several peacebuilding organisations has led the preparations of the event.  

With Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine, the EU is facing a prolonged war on its doorstep. In consequence, the EU has strengthened its posture on security and defense. However, at the same time, non-violent conflict resolution and mediation between conflict parties is one of the first and foremost crisis response measures of the EU. Peace remains a core EU foreign policy objective.

In light of these challenges, the CoP will highlight the contributions of mediation and dialogue support to the prevention, mitigation and management of conflict.  Importantly, it will enable to examine instances of mediation that have yielded positive outcomes, in order to discern effective strategies, and gather concrete recommendations from the practitioner’s community.  It will also contribute to the discussion how to further enhance the implementation of the 2020 Concept on EU Peace Mediation, in particular offering a platform to present the reviewed EEAS Peace Mediation Guidelines.

Format

Two-day hybrid format

Drawing on both the advantage to meet in-person and the possibility for a more inclusive and wider group brought in through the virtual space.  In previous years, some 600 participants joined online.

The In-situcomponent

This will allow for participants from Europe but also from non-European contexts to convene physically in Brussels, (primarily sponsored by session-organisers). Fully online panels can be formed in parallel to the hybrid sessions, depending on the proposals received by participating organisations, as well as only in-person sessions, for more sensitive topics if warranted.

The online component

This will be supported by the Zoom platform: webinar setting will apply during plenary sessions and meeting setting during breakout sessions. Not all breakout sessions may feature online participation should the session organiser motivate why a more closed setting is preferable for a constructive discussion, but this should be an exception and not the rule.

Different formats will be encouraged for the sessions (panels, round-table, lecture, presentations and others). Session organisers are encouraged to be creative, as long as the spaces can technically meet the proposed format.

Location/Venue

Sofitel Hotel at Place Jourdan 1, Brussels.One main room for the opening panel, selected priority sessions and the closing panel (max. 120 in-situ attendees).

Three meeting rooms for breakout sessions: one for approx. 15 people, two for approx. 30 people each.

Online platform

The CoP website (www.eupeacemediation.info) will allow consultations on session proposals with the Peacebuilding Community to set up the final agenda. Session proposals will be submitted on the CoP website through a form composed by drop-down menus, gathering resources and takeaway materials to be collected in one place, update agendas and logistical information. Other information (e.g. training offers, research outputs or articles) can be also included on the website.

Interpretation

Live interpretation will be provided during the opening and closing sessions, whereas the other sessions of the conference will have online translation.

Moderation

The Steering Group is positive towards engaging two professional chairs for the entire duration of the event, ensuring continuity between sessions and guiding the participants through the agenda. The chairs should seamlessly bridge the in-situ and online component, actively engage participants attending in both mediums making it feel as one event.

Next steps

Pre-consultation with CoP participants from previous years: Pre-consultations were launched 10th July, inviting members from the Community involved in previous CoP events to input through an open online notepad. The invitation to contribute was sent to individuals identified by the Steering Group, also open for Steering Group members and their respective organisations to input.

Main questions covered in this pre consultation (key lessons):

i.     What do participants expect the CoP to feel like in terms of the online space offered? How interactive?

ii.     What are the types of sessions (format) that they would like to see?

https://padlet.com/iammiguel/cop-2023-feeling-and-design-brainstorming-k2fqt8fif81thdqd

The technical expert, Miguel Varela, will interpret the results of the pre-consultation and inform the Steering Group continuously. There is no deadline set so the pre-consultation can remain open over the summer months until early September.

Call for session proposals: the CoP website will be prepared to receive session proposals from the Community. Steering Group members and EEAS are invited to share the link to the Website to Community members (i.e. EPLO members, mediation network, Women Mediation Networks, partners in non-European contexts, Framework Contract on Conflict Prevention and Dialogue consortium members, ERMES III, the Facility for Security Sector and Good Governance and the Facility for Justice in Conflict and Transition).

Once launched, session proposals can be submitted until 7th September, to allow for a minimum of 6 weeks for logistics, VISA and travels and preparation ahead of the event including testing the online component with a small test audience.

Creating the agenda. After 7th September, session proposals will be analysed and a draft agenda created, with emphasis on balance between different session formats and topics as well as geographic representation of session speakers. Gender-balance and youth participation will also be key denominators when setting the agenda.

 

Steering Group members have suggested to ensure youth engagement by inviting the below platform to submit session proposals (non-exhaustive).

  • Search for Common Ground YPS platform

  • USIP platform of youth

  • UN Special Envoy on Youth