Press Release: The European Institute of Peace marks its 10th Anniversary on 28-29 May 2024
28/05/2024
Brussels, 28 May, 2024 – The European Institute of Peace marks its 10th anniversary on 28-29 May. It will use the opportunity to focus on the changing nature and reduced space for peacemaking, particularly from a European and youth perspective.
“The number of people killed in armed conflict, levels of physical and mental violence, acute and chronic humanitarian needs are rising,” said Michael Keating, the Executive Director of the European Institute of Peace.” Many more people now live in ‘no war, no peace’ situations, caught up in long-running internationalised civil wars and unresolved disputes. Peacemaking is both more complex and more needed than ever”.
The Institute was set up to be an independent centre of competence in conflict resolution, partnering with European states, the EU, civil society and the broader peacemaking community. Active in 20 or so countries on four continents, its work includes engaging parties to conflict, facilitating dialogue, supporting mediation, and initiatives that increase the agency of people most affected by conflict. It works with a wide range of partners to create conditions for peace and security.
“The Institute’s mission is more relevant than ever – for unfortunate reasons,” added Micheal Keating. “Threats to peace and security are multiplying. Diplomacy and dialogue are not alternatives to defence and deterrence but an essential part of the mix if political solutions are to be advanced in an increasingly polarised world”.
Two events are being organised to put the spotlight on peacemaking today. The first on Tuesday 28th May is among young people to share views on the biggest peace and security challenges ahead, and how they can play a greater role. On Wednesday 29th, young people and experienced policy makers that have served as foreign ministers, special envoys and mediators will gather to discuss how peacemaking is changing and why it is receiving less political and financial support.
This takes place less than two weeks before European elections and a few months before a new European Commission is appointed. Bandwidth and budgets are being absorbed by the imperative of responding to urgent security threats and supporting Ukraine and, more recently, to conflict in the Middle East, deprioritising attention to conflicts and crises elsewhere.
For more information about the events, please visit the Institute’s website.
Partners and participants:
Together with the European Parliament Young Political Leaders alumni network, Friends of Europe, Forbes, the Kofi Annan Foundation and other partners, we are bringing together young and experienced leaders, including: Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium; Aisha Khurram, Afghan activist and former representative of Afghan youth to the United Nations; Miroslav Lajčák, EUSR for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues; Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden; Anna Popsui, Ukrainian activist and co-founder of the Young Peacebuilding Leaders network (OSCE); and many others from the fields of diplomacy, international relations, and conflict resolution.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Nolan
Public Affairs and Communications Officer
European Institute of Peace