Analysing EU civilian capabilities for external conflict prevention and peacebuilding with a goal to enhance future policy practice is the aim of the EU-CIVCAP project. Read the papers focusing on Western Balkans authored by the BCSP research team.

Capacity Building for Security Sector Reform in Kosovo

Sonja Stojanovic Gajic (BCSP)

This paper evaluates the international community’s approaches to capacity building of the security sector in Kosovo from NATO’s intervention in 1999 to the present day. Analysing a period of almost two decades, therefore,  this paper provides insights on how the approach to capacity building has evolved through four phases of security sector reform, reflecting corresponding changes in the political context over the same period.

Report on impact of EU engagement on mediation and local level dialogue initiatives in Western Balkans

Erik Plänitz (Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institute Freiburg), Sonja Stojanovic Gajic (BCSP)

Erik Plänitz and BCSP Director Sonja Stojanovic Gajicexamined the EU’s efforts in mediation and local dialogue initiatives in Serbia and Kosovo, identified lessons to be learnt, assessed the EU’s capabilities to meet its own expectations and pointed to shortcomings.

Reclaiming the local in EU peacebuilding: Effectiveness, ownership, and resistance

Filip Ejdus (BCSP), Ana E. Juncos (University of Bristol)

A turn to the “local” should not be limited to debates, but also include non-Western academics and encompass research co-produced with policy-makers immersed in the local context and EU peacebuilding initiatives, conclude BCSP Board Member Filip Ejdus and Ana E. Juncos.

Report on Civil-Military Synergies on the Ground

Peter Horne Zartsdahl (Roskilde University), Katarina DJokic (BCSP)

The paper by Peter Horne Zartsdahl and BCSP researcher Katarina Djokic examines civil-military synergies during the execution of crisis management operations within Common Security and Defence Policy. The report approaches the concept of civilmilitary synergy as a practical approach to cost-reduction and as a more desirable impact-increasing measure.

Partners in conflict prevention and peacebuilding: How the EU, UN and OSCE exchange civilian capabilities in Kosovo, Mali and Armenia

Hylke Dijkstra (Maastricht University), Ewa Mahr (Maastricht University), Petar Petrov (Maastricht University), Katarina DJokic (BCSP), Peter Horne Zartsdahl (Roskilde University)

This report analyses how the EU, UN and OSCE exchange civilian capabilities during crisis missions in Kosovo, Mali and Armenia.

Improving the EU’s local capacity building efforts In post-conflict environments

Ana E. Juncos (University of Bristol), Gilberto Algar-Faria (University of Bristol), Timothy Edmunds (University of Bristol), Katarina DJokic (BCSP), Erik Plänitz (Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institute Freiburg), Khadir Abdi (Transparency Solutions), Savannah Simons (University of Bristol)

International capacity building activities don't include enough local involvement in problem identification, project development and evaluation, interviewees from  Western Balkans and  Horn of Africa agree. This policy brief offers recommendations.

International capacity building in the Western Balkans and the Horn of Africa: Lessons on coherence and coordination

Gilberto Algar-Faria ( University of Bristol), Ana E. Juncos ( University of Bristol), , Timothy Edmunds (University of Bristol), Sonja Stojanovic Gajic (BCSP), Katarina DJokic (BCSP),  Erik Plänitz (Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institute Freiburg), Khadir Abdi (University of Bristol), Savannah Simons (University of Bristol)

This report examines the coherence and coordination among international actors (including the EU), and between international and local actors. Drawing on five case study areas (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa, Kosovo, and Serbia), this report offers lessons for more effective capacity building.

Evaluating international efforts on local capacity building

Ana E. Juncos ( University of Bristol), Gilberto Algar-Faria ( University of Bristol), Timothy Edmunds (University of Bristol), Katarina DJokic (BCSP), Erik Plänitz (Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institute Freiburg), Khadir Abdi (University of Bristol), Savannah Simons (University of Bristol)

This report evaluates international efforts in capacity building in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Kosovo, Serbia and Somalia. It examines both the concept of capacity building and its implementation in practice.

Beyond ad hoc cooperation: How the EU, UN and OSCE can better address conflict

Hylke Dijkstra (Maastricht University), Ewa Mahr (Maastricht University), Petar Petrov (Maastricht University), Katarina DJokic (BCSP), Peter Horne Zartsdahl (Roskilde University)

The European Union (EU) cooperates closely with international partners in the areas of conflict prevention, crisis management and peacebuilding. As there are few places around the world where the EU operates as the only security actor, a better understanding of how the EU interacts with partners on the ground is critical.