mediatEUr is excited to have been awarded a grant from the Robert Bosch Foundation for a new project on the Future of Syria. The project proposes an innovative digital dialogue methodology that gives voice to Syrian refugees living in host communities in Jordan and Lebanon, to identify their own concerns as they look forward to their future. The objective of the project is to help transform current realities on the ground and inspire inclusive conflict resolution and international action.

From 28 to 30 January, Senior Executive Officer Kathrin Quesada delivered training on inclusive dialogue and mediation processes in post-conflict environments at the State Police College of Baden Württemberg in Germany. The programme, which has run since 2017 and was developed in close collaboration with mediatEUr, specifically targets police officers and civilians working in international peacekeeping missions.

At the end of February, mediatEUr members Luis Peral and David Price, assisted by our Project Assistant Esther Kestemont, went to Jordan in order to accomplish the first mission of our Future of Syria project, funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation and with financial and logistics support from the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

mediatEUr’s SEO Kathrin Quesada took the floor on Wednesday evening as a panellist for an engaging discussion on international mediation in intractable conflicts. She appeared alongside EIP’s Senior Advisor Hilde Johnson at the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP) organised event.

For the second year running, mediatEUr assisted the Mediation Support Team of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to convene its Community of Practice on Peace Mediation through its Framework Contract for Mediation Support.

The Covid-19 pandemic has not paused conflict around the world – despite calls for a global ceasefire, researchers have found.

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.

Adi Vasulevu is the Executive Director of Transcend Oceania, a peacebuilding organisation based in Fiji. As part of ongoing discussions around COP26, we spoke to Adi about her work and the challenges facing Fijians including climate change and COVID-19.

As politicians, scientists and activists meet in Glasgow to discuss tackling climate change at COP26, Florence Swamy argues that we must not forget about the people on the frontlines of the climate emergency.