EU Community of Practice on Peace Mediation 2022
Mediation in a challenging international environment:
building partnerships for sustainable peace
26-27 October 2022
Martin's Brussels EU, Boulevard Charlemagne 80, Brussels 1000, Belgium
and online
The 2022 EU Community of Practice on Peace Mediation (CoP) takes place as the EU peace mediation is facing unprecedented challenges. A war is waging at the doorstep of the European Union, while numerous other violent conflicts continue or risk outbreak in different regions of our interconnected world. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a major impact not only on the European but also on the global peace and security architecture on hard power and defense. All this leaves the mediation practitioner community with many questions as to the place and role of peace mediation and dialogue.
In this era, enhancing the potential of partnerships in peace mediation is particularly pertinent. This should entail reinforcing existing and building new partnerships for joint and complementary mediation approaches that contribute to lasting peace.
Organised since 2019, the CoP is an annual event, convening EU and international actors, policy makers, mediation practitioners, experts and representatives of civil society from around the globe. It allows discussions on the current state and the future of EU mediation and enables knowledge exchange and constructive reflections on challenges and lessons identified, with the aim of formulating concrete recommendations for continuous improvements.
The first CoP took place in person, while the 2020 and 2021 editions migrated to the virtual format amidst the covid pandemic. This fourth edition, on 26-27 October 2022, takes place in a hybrid format, with both physical (in Brussels) and online participation. Since May 2022, a Steering Committee convened by the EU Mediation Support Team has led the preparations of the event.
In light of new challenges, the event will allow for highlighting the importance of mediation and dialogue support as key tools of EU foreign policy. Importantly, it will enable gathering concrete recommendations from the practitioner community on how to further enhance EU mediation, in particular the implementation of the 2020 Concept on EU Peace Mediation and the EEAS Peace Mediation Guidelines.
Please note: With exception of the opening and closing panel, all sessions take place under the Chatham House Rule.
EU CoP22 Program
Two days of 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.
Participating in person:
This years CoP22 takes place in Hotel Martin´s on Boulevard Charlemagne 80. The venue allows for approximately 80 participants joining physically in Brussels. In person participation is therefore subject to availability on a first come first served basis.
Participating virtually:
Most sessions will be streamed online and we are looking forward to welcome participants joining CoP22 virtually over Zoom. Please make sure to register for the event to receive the CoP22 Zoom link.
Engaging virtually:
Building on the successful experiences of previous years, CoP22 will feature an online whiteboard that is divided into two parts. On one side the content discussed in the panels will be visualized in real-time by a dedicated dialogue mapper. On the other side of the online whiteboard, online participants can post their ideas, questions and comments. Moreover, the Zoom chat will be disabled but you will be able to raise your hand and take the floor for asking questions. For more information on the digital methods of CoP22, please click here
Propose issues that are important to you: We welcome novel, innovative proposals to enhance the EU approach to mediation. Sessions are run by the people who propose them, and pose an opportunity to feed into future EU mediation planning. Participants will collaborate with attendants to give feedback to register the ideas from the session. Your voice will be part of the final report.
Ready? If you have any further questions, please reach out to isabella.bjorkman@cmi.fi
On 27, 28 and 29 April 2021, the Mediation Support Team of the European External Action Service hosted the Third EU Community of Practice on Peace Mediation (CoP). During the online three-day event, EU actors, policy makers, mediation practitioners and members of civil society joined to cast the future of EU mediation, reflect on challenges, and share lessons to help drive forward key issues.