Unleashing the soft power potential of the European Union (7.10.2009)

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the concept of mediation for the European Union, establish its policy relevance, analyse reigning perceptions and attitudes so as to identify some key challenges in order to provide a conclusion that seeks to propose measures that could bring out the „soft power‟ potential of the European Union.

The rising evidence that mediation is a useful tool in resolving intrastate conflicts is only beginning to reach the EU‟s policy makers. Working towards realizing the soft power potential of the EU as a civilian actor, requires a full, and not a superficial understanding about the enormous value added that a structured, systematic approach in conflict resolution could bring.

Too much time and energy is spent deciding on foreign policy actions that attempt to magnify the power of the European Union through leverage and pressure, where the aspect of responding to the need in helping conflict parties to resolve their disputes is often left aside. This is dismissive of the billions of Euros are spent for development aid and projects that involve civil society which work towards creating just and equitable societies that are not about conflict, but peace.

Part of this problem is of course that mediation as a tool for conflict resolution has not fully found its way in the realms of foreign policy making. There is indeed an internal resistance to „open‟ its dense, somewhat stuffy and intricate system of foreign policy that prevents a breath of fresh air, or thinking.

To change the system of how diplomacy is being done, much effort and work is required, through training, reflective learning and – through the setting up of a „space‟ for mediation. The EU needs to give at least the practice of international peace mediation a chance. This could lead us to a new and promising era of foreign policy making.

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Unleashing the soft power potential of the European Union