Publication

This paper provides an overview of the European Union's involvement in international peacemaking as well as the potential for further efforts in this field. The author puts forward three arguments: 1) The EU has a moral duty and a legal obligation to work towards the peaceful settlement of disputes; 2) the European Union’s track record in ‘peacemaking’ since the early 1990s shows that while the EU is equipped with a rich toolbox, it has so far used its diplomatic instruments in a fairly ad hoc fashion; and 3) the creation of the European External Action Service (EEAS) has reinforced the EU’s capacities and expertise in the field of conflict resolution.