TERM PAPER ASSIGNMENT
DIPLOMA YEAR 3 ALSD 305 - INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION THEORIES
Group Three
1. SPACEY BENSON- AIGG/04255P/2021
2. SHEILA KARIUKI - AIGG/ 04222P/2021
3. BELLONCE KAGEHI - AIGG/04938P/2021
4. MARY MWIKALI - AIGG/03613P/2021
5. LAVENDER AKINYI OCHIENG - AILE/05290P/2021
6. JOSEPH OMWENGA - AIGG/05090P/2021
QUESTION: DISCUSS HOW EU IS INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS BY
ACTING AS THIRD PARTY INTERVENERS IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS HENCE THE
EFFECTIVENESS AND CHALLANGES EU FACES
The European Union (EU)
INTRODUCTION
EU is a unified international organization that governs the economic, political, and
social policies of 27 member states. Originally formed with the desire to achieve
peace in Europe, current EU policies are tailored to ensure the free movement of
people, goods, services, and capital among its member states.
The European Union was built with the aim of ending frequent wars among
neighboring countries following the Second World War. In 1951, the European
Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) started uniting nations to achieve peace.
The six founding countries of the EU are:
Belgium
France
Germany
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
The Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957, creating the European Economic
Community, or a “common market.” It was followed by a period of economic
growth – a result of lowering trade restrictions among member states.
The EU experienced continued expansion ever since, with the fall of communism
and the Berlin Wall supporting a closer-knit Europe. In 1993, the “Single Market”
agreement was completed, allowing four types of freedoms – the movement of
goods, services, people, and money.
In 2004 the European Union experienced its largest enlargement with the accession
of eight new East European states as well as Malta and Cyprus. In 2007 it grew
larger still with the accession of Romania, Bulgaria and then Croatia in 2013.
The EU is now a political and economic union of 28 member states with a
population of over 500 million citizens and which covers an area larger than India.
In respect of free movement of people, this has also developed over time. Free
movement was originally designed for workers and the self employed to take up
work in another member state. This was gradually expanded to include job seekers,
students and those of independent means. Meanwhile, European Court of Justice
case law has removed the requirement to be economically active.
This systematic removal of restrictions on EU migration coincided with an
expansion of the EU to less wealthy countries with the result that the number of
people migrating grew very substantially. Today over 11 million EU nationals live
in another member state including 3.2 million EU nationals living in the UK.
In March 2019 the UK will become the first country to invoke Article 50 and leave
the EU following a referendum on membership in June 2015. Previously,
Greenland voted to leave the European Economic Community in 1985 and Algeria
left in 1962 upon gaining independence from France.
As more members joined the EU, it grew from a community of six member states
to 27 member states.
Membership in the European Union
To be a part of the EU, applicant countries must meet certain conditions, known as
the “Copenhagen criteria.” The key criteria are listed below:
 Stable institutions guaranteeing the rule of law, democracy, human rights,
and respect for and protection of minorities;
 A functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with market forces
and competition in the EU;
 The ability to take on and implement effectively the obligations of
membership, including adherence to the aims of economic, political, and
monetary union.
Following the exit of the United Kingdom in early 2020, there are now 27
remaining member states of the EU.
Governing Institutions of the European Union
The European Union oversees three main institutions that are involved in
legislation:
1. European Parliament
The European Parliament is elected by the EU’s citizens and is responsible for lawmaking, supervision, and budget establishment.
2. Council of the European Union
Represents the governments of each of the EU’s member states, with one minister
from each state. Responsible for coordinating policies, adopting EU laws, and
voicing the opinion of member states.
3. European Commission
The EU’s politically independent executive arm, responsible for proposing and
enforcing legislation, managing policies, allocating budgets, and representing the
EU internationally.
HOW Eu achieves its missions
1.Diplomatic and political engagement.
Eu engages by putting effort to mediate conflicts ans promote dialogue. It often
supports peace negotiations
Facilitates dialogue and encourages reconciliation
Promotes resolution and the implementation of peace agreements.
2.Development and humanitarian Aid.
Eu provides assistance to conflict affected area like providing emergency relief to
address immediate needs such as food water shelter healthcare and protection to
vulnerable populations including the internally displaced persons and refugees.
It also look into the root cause of the conflict in the affected regions.
3.Protection of the rule of law and human rights.
4.Peace building and conflict prevention.
The EU ia actively involved in peace building and conflict prevention efforts.This
involves diplomatic initiatives mediation and support for peace processes. The eu
works to facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties.
The common security and defence policy conducts civilian and military missions
5.Development assistance and post conflict reconstruction.
The EU supports long term development projects in post conflict situations to
rebuild infrastructure strengthen institutions and promote sustainable
development. This assistance aims to address the root causes of conflict and
create conditions for peace. It often involves economic recovery governance
reforms and social rebuilding
It also focuses on addressing the root causes of conflicts through conflict
prevention strategies. This includes early warning mechanisms political analysis
and support for good governance human rights and the rule of law.The EU works
to identify and address tension before they escalate into open conflict.
WHY the Eu is involved in international conflicts
1.Humanitarian concerns
The eu often intervenes in conflicts to address humanitarian crises and
protection of human rights.it is committed to alleviate human suffering and
preventing atrocities.
Also it encourages parties to respect international humanitarian law.
2.peace and security
Eu has goals and one of its primary goal is to maintain peace and security not only
with its member states but also the international community therefore by it's
intervention it prevents the escalation violence and contribution to the resolution
of disputes.
3.Economic interests
conflicts can disrupt trade economic development and investments.The. eu as
also an economic bloc has interests in resolving conflicts that may affect its
economic relationship s with other countries and regions
4.conflict prevention
The eu is proactive in preventing conflicts before the escalate. Early engagements
helps the eu to address underlying issues mitigate tensions and prevent the
outbreak of violence.
5. Multilateral diplomacy
The eu often engages in multilateral diplomacy to address global challenges.By
acting as the third party in conflict the eu can work within the framework of
international organisation s such as un to coordinate efforts and achieve more
effective and lasting solutions
EU ACHIEVEMENTS:
The European Union (EU) has achieved significant milestones since its inception.
Some key ACHIEVEMENTS include:
Peace and Stability: One of the EU's primary objectives was to promote peace
and stability in Europe after the devastation of World War II. The EU is credited
with contributing to the longest period of peace in the continent's history.
Single Market: The creation of a single market allows for the free movement of
goods, services, capital, and people among member states. This has boosted
economic growth and enhanced competitiveness.
Euro Currency: The adoption of the euro as a common currency in several
member states has facilitated cross-border trade, eliminated exchange rate
uncertainties, and promoted economic integration.
Schengen Agreement: The Schengen Agreement, signed in the village of
Schengen in Luxembourg in 1985, represents a key milestone in European
integration. It established the Schengen Area, a zone where internal border
controls are largely abolished, allowing for the free movement of people across
participating countries. The Schengen Area, comprising most EU countries, allows
for passport-free travel, promoting ease of movement within the region.
Environmental Policies: The EU has been at the forefront of global efforts to
address climate change, implementing various policies and initiatives to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development.
Consumer Protection and Standards: The EU has implemented regulations to
ensure high standards of consumer protection, product safety, and food quality
across member states.
Human Rights and Democracy: The EU has played a key role in promoting human
rights, democracy, and the rule of law within its borders and globally.
Research and Innovation: Through programs like Horizon 2020, the EU has
invested significantly in research and innovation, fostering collaboration among
member states and advancing technological progress.
Social Cohesion: The EU has worked to reduce disparities in wealth and
development among member states through cohesion policies, aiming to create a
more balanced and socially inclusive Europe.
Enlargement: The EU has expanded its membership over the years, promoting
stability and democracy in candidate countries and contributing to the integration
of formerly divided regions.
While the EU has achieved much, it also faces ongoing challenges, such as
managing internal diversity, economic disparities, and addressing the evolving
needs of its citizens.
Challenges facing the European union
1.Economic Disparities: The EU consists of diverse economies, with some
member states being more affluent than others. Balancing economic
development and addressing disparities in wealth and productivity among
member countries poses a continual challenge.
2.Migration and Asylum: Managing migration flows, especially during crises, has
been a complex issue. Striking a balance between humanitarian concerns and the
economic and social impacts on member states remains a contentious challenge.
3.Political Cohesion: The EU comprises member states with distinct political
cultures and national interests. Achieving consensus on important issues, such as
foreign policy or reforms, requires delicate negotiations to maintain overall
political cohesion.
4.Brexit Fallout: The departure of the United Kingdom (Brexit) has created
uncertainties and challenges for both the UK and the EU. Negotiating the future
relationship and mitigating economic and political repercussions remain ongoing
concerns.
5.Democratic Deficit: Some critics argue that there is a democratic deficit within
the EU, meaning that decision-making processes are perceived as distant and
complex, leading to a lack of direct accountability to European citizens.
6.Eurozone Stability: The countries sharing the euro face challenges in
coordinating economic policies and ensuring stability within the Eurozone.
Economic crises in one member state can have spillover effects on others.
7.Security and Defense: Ensuring the security of member states in a changing
geopolitical landscape requires coordinated efforts. Establishing a unified
approach to defense and security policy has been a gradual and sometimes
challenging process.
8.Rule of Law Concerns: Issues related to the rule of law in some member states
have raised concerns within the EU. Balancing the respect for national sovereignty
with the need to uphold common European values is an ongoing challenge.
Addressing these challenges requires continuous dialogue, negotiation, and
adaptation of policies to ensure the resilience and effectiveness of the European
Union.
Ho w the EU has HELPED in mediation
The European Union has been actively involved in mediating conflicts around the
world by promoting dialogue and facilitating negotiations. They use their
diplomatic influence and leverage to encourage conflicting parties to come to the
table and find peaceful solutions. The EU provides financial and technical
assistance to support mediation processes, helping to build trust and create an
environment conducive to successful negotiations. They also deploy mediators
and experts who have extensive experience in conflict resolution to assist in the
mediation process. Through these efforts, the EU aims to prevent and resolve
conflicts, promote stability, and contribute to peacebuilding globally.
Conclusion
The European Union (EU) is a complex political and economic union that has
evolved since its inception to promote cooperation and integration among
member states. This research on the E
highlights its achievements, such as fostering peace and economic growth, but
also addresses challenges like institutional complexities and member-state
disparities. The European union remains a significant regional union in Europe,
where it has a promising future to promote the relationship amongst its member
states.