EU Community of Practice 2026: Peace Mediation in the Age of Power Politics
Organised annually since 2019, CoP is the EU’s flagship event on peace mediation, bringing together practitioners from governments, international and regional organisations, academia as well as civil society from around the globe.
This year’s discussions focused on how to ensure peace mediation remains relevant in a polarised geopolitical landscape marked by increasing conflicts, where long-term peace agreements are become more elusive and mediators face greater risks.
Participants shared lessons learnt and best practices across an agenda they helped to shape, covering four continents and ranging from maritime security and critical minerals to digital technologies and outer space. This open, co-created format reflects the EU’s genuine commitment to connecting peace mediation tracks.
The event was jointly organised by EEAS and the the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) of the European Commission, with active support from partner organisations: European Peace Building Liaison Office, Crisis Management Initiative - Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, Berghof Foundation, European Institute for Peace and Conciliation Resources.
Welcoming remarks were given by EEAS Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs Olof Skoog and Peter Wagner, Head of the EC Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) as well as the opening panel with Domitien Ndayizeye, the AU chair of the Panel of the Wise, Martin Bille Hermann, EEAS Managing Director for Multilateral Relations, Human Rights and Democracy, and Fabienne Hara, Europe Director of the International Crisis Group.