News
6/11/2010
Peace and Security Policy Briefing: A View from Europe
From May 31 – June 2 the “Peace and Security Policy Briefing: A View from Europe” was held in Brussels. The event, which was part of the European Foundation Centre Foundation Week, was organized jointly by the European Foundation Centre and the Peace and Security Funders Group, with support from the Berghof Foundation for Conflict Studies, the Foundation Charles Leopold Mayer and the Joseph Rowentree Charitable Trust.
The two-day briefing brought together funders from both sides of the Atlantic for a discussion with policy makers, policy analysts and practitioners on a broad range of issues. Most importantly, the agenda covered the following key topics:
• Europe’s Role in Promoting Global Security: A Look at Priorities, Politics and Prospects
• Ground Truths and Lessons from the Balkans and Afghanistan
• EU Responses to the Drivers of Contemporary Conflict
• Changing Geopolitics in a Multipolar World
• Contrast, Compare and Cooperate: European and North American Peace and Security Philanthropy
The program, which also featured a performance by the Colombian singer and peace activist Juanes, was organized as a mix of plenary and breakout sessions. The breakout session on “Political Violence and the Discourse on Terrorism” was organized jointly by Dr. Dr. Hans-Joachim Giessmann from Berghof Conflict Research and Dr. Oliver Wils from Berghof Peace Support.
Apart from offering a rare networking opportunity for the approximately 50 participants coming from both sides of the Atlantic, the event provided a well-informed look at peacebuilding and security issues through a European lens. In discussion with policy analysts, policy makers and practitioners, possibilities were explored to allow private funders to work more effectively on these issues. It was agreed that collaboration and coordination, in particular among European funders, could play a critical role in this regard.
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