Throughout May and June 2020, mediatEUr, in consultation with its former members and now Associates of Conciliation Resources, identified and developed its key priority points and recommendations for the current revision of the Concept on Strengthening EU Mediation and Dialogue Capacities, and the development of an accompanying set of Guidelines on mediation. As a mediation support partner of the EEAS, mediatEUr welcomes the opportunity to participate in this policy process.
mediatEUr's statement also supports and seeks to build upon the statement issued by the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) by offering further elaboration and nuance to some of its core elements.
mediatEUr's full statement reads:
As a mediation support partner of the EEAS, mediatEUr welcomes the revision of the EU Concept on strengthening EU capacities for mediation and dialogue, the development of accompanying Guidelines on mediation and the opportunity to participate in this process. This statement sets out mediatEUr’s main recommendations and observations for consideration. We support the statement prepared by the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) and seek to build upon it.
It is important to acknowledge the context in which the Concept is being revised and reflect upon the evolving landscape of international relations as well as the dramatically shifting dynamics that drive the emergence and continuation of conflict. mediatEUr recommends the acknowledgement of the inherent risk and unpredictability of the outcome of mediation efforts engaged in by the EU, as with any actor. Nonetheless, mediation is an essential and cost- effective tool at the EU’s disposal in facing post-pandemic realties as well as those pre-existing the pandemic. Now is a critical time for the EU to prioritise and resource mediation and dialogue capacities sufficiently as part of a wider peacebuilding and conflict prevention strategy.
mediatEUr echoes the importance of clearly defining the EU as a value-driven mediation actor and differentiating this from political intervention. A tension exists between embracing a set of values transparently and openly, whilst also acknowledging the effect it has on neutrality and impartiality, or more importantly perceived neutrality and impartiality. Recognizing this dynamic within the Concept is recommended, as well as how over-arching macro and political values may impede defined operational level values, so that the EU and its interventions around the world are not just regarded as a bank account for conflict parties to access.
It is recommended that the updated Concept provides further clarification on concepts, principles, approaches and mediation “styles”, whilst avoiding a hegemonic approach. A distinction is needed between diplomatic approaches and exercises in conflict resolution and how these hybrid forms of diplomacy could be best supported. The EU’s mediation practice should recognize a number of strategic contexts for mediation, such as conflict prevention, conflict management, conflict transformation, conflict resolution, and maintaining consensus and achieving consent. It would also be beneficial for the Concept to distinguish between “mediation support” and “peace process support” and to clarify the connection between the two.
mediatEUr considers that there is an opportunity and a need to widen the EU’s approach to mediation in relation to peace process support in terms of substance and timing. Pertinent issues include:
- the promotion of humanitarian mediation, which can function as a crisis management tool in an emergency to determine limited agreements over the protection of civilians and humanitarian concerns with potential lead-in to longer processes;
- environmental factors and natural resource issues such as competition for water and/or land usage between pastoralists and farmers which are likely to be exacerbated by climate change and will demand new approaches to conflict management and mediation;
- integrating a gendered understanding of power in all phases of mediation and mediation support, and continuing empowering women mediators across the globe;
- support to multi-track approaches by increasing coordination and complementarity between formal track 1 mediation in which the EU engages directly, and support given by the EU to diverse track 1.5/2 processes, as well as increased policy, expertise and funding support to track 3 processes;
- recognise the value of mediation at different phases in peace processes to promote conflict prevention as well as providing support during the pre-Agreement and implementation phases of an Agreement in order that peace processes do not slip back into conflict;
- rendering the EU’s mediation capacities fit for the digital age and endeavouring to be at the forefront of cutting-edge research and technology in this regard.
With regards to mediation actors, we recommend:
- improved co-ordination between different actors operating in the same political space, not only peacebuilding actors with aligned objectives;
- acknowledgement and support for the role of “traditional mediators” in generating solutions to local issues that give expression to conflict as well as adding legitimacy to negotiated outcomes and agreements;
- acknowledgement of the roles played by insider mediators, with more coordination needed to ensure that the EU does not eclipse their work;
- greater attention being paid to gender and ethnic diversity when appointing those to represent the EU in mediation processes;
- a strong focus on strengthening technical skills and capacity in the field of mediation with consideration for minimum training standards for those appointed to represent the EU.
An additional issue to consider is the EU’s practice of mediation within Europe in the face of social and political conflicts that have emerged. The demonstration of using lessons learned from the EU’s experience to effectively manage and overcome conflict outside the EU to support the resolution of conflicts also within, stands to increase the credibility and legitimacy of the EU to engage externally.
Finalising a new Concept and accompanying Guidelines also presents an opportune moment to identify the lessons that the EU has learned from its effective collaboration with other entities including the AU, OSCE, UN and civil society partners. The EU has a strong track record of working with a diversity or practitioners and should sustain means to draw lessons from this.
In 2021, mediatEUr became Conciliation Resources EU/mediatEUr.