Establishing the Knowledge Base of a Smart Power : a Blue Print for an EU Institute for Peace

Analyse approfondie 12-02-2010

The purpose of this report is to present a view on whether there is an added value in establishing an “EU Institute for Peace”, and, if so, to make a suggestion on how it can be organized. The background is the fact that as the Lisbon Treaty has now come into force the Union should be capable to carry out the role of a global actor in the pursuit of peace as set up by the Treaty. The world as it looks today with the challenges and threats described in the European Security Strategy has given the Union a vast and complex task in its ambitions to create security and work for peace also on a global level. The challenge for the Union at this stage is to acquire the capabilities needed in analysis, knowledge and training based on a common strategic vision to pursue this. Suggestions for an EU Institute for Peace have been made by former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari, and Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt, referring to the need to fulfill EU’s goals in a better way. It seems clear already at this stage that the EU is in need of strengthened capabilities and the purpose of this standard briefing is to suggest a structure for this in the form of an EU institute for peace.