Standing united for peace: The EU in coordinated third-party support to peace processes

This report by Canan Gündüz of International Alert and Kristian Herbolzheimer of Conciliation Resources presents the research carried out by the Initiative for Peacebuilding project into how the European Union (EU) can provide effective multilateral assistance to peace processes around the world.

It gives a background to international third-party support to peace negotiations and draws lessons on third-party coordination for EU purposes.  

The analysis finds that the EU is often in a good position to help bring an end to armed conflicts in other regions, for example through political leverage or financial support.  However, it also faces challenges, such as how to agree common positions.

Recommendations for the EU include ensuring that third-party coordination efforts are part of wider strategies and also avoiding duplication of efforts.