The EU and the Peacebuilding Commission

What can the world hope for from the Peacebuilding Commission, given the

record of the United Nations in this area? And what contribution can the European

Union (EU) offer, given its own record in engaging with countries emerging from violent

conflict? The essential task in peacebuilding is to restore a war-torn society’s capacity to

manage its own conflicts. The priority for the Peacebuilding Commission should be to

develop international support and legitimacy for this task, avoiding muddying it with

the foreign policy objectives of donor states. The EU has much to offer and much to gain

from establishing this growing area of global governance on sound principles and

internationally accepted lines. The paper argues that the EU can and should play a leading

part in developing the Peacebuilding Commission. It reflects on principles that could be

applied and practices that should be avoided.