"The European Union as International Mediator is a convincing assessment of the EU's mediation effectiveness as part of the EU's foreign and security policy. ... Rich in detail and supported by more than 70 interviews, the cases are comprehensive and interesting to read ... ." (Karin Göldner-Ebenthal and Beatrix Austin, S+F Sicherheit und Frieden, Vol. 37 (3), 2019)
1 Introduction
1.1 The EU’s Emergence as an International Mediator
1.2 Delimiting EU Mediation in Theory and Practice
1.3 Research on EU Mediation and the Main Contribution of the Book
1.4 A Comparative Case Study Approach
1.5 Introducing the Cases of EU Mediation
1.6 Organisation of the Book
2 EU Mediation Effectiveness: an Analytical Framework
2.1 Conceptualisation of EU Mediation Effectiveness
2.2 Theorising the Conditions of EU Mediation Effectiveness
2.3 Delimiting the Boundaries of the Analytical Framework
3 The EU as a Mediator in the Conflict over Montenegro’s Independence
3.1 Mediation Format and Setting
3.2 The EU’s Effectiveness as a Mediator
3.3 Conditions of EU Mediation Effectiveness
3.4 Explaining EU Mediation Effectiveness in the Conflict over Montenegro’s Independence
4 The EU as a Mediator in the Kosovo-Serbia Conflict
4.1 Mediation Format and Setting
4.2 The EU’s Effectiveness as a Mediator
4.3 Conditions of EU Mediation Effectiveness
4.4 Explaining EU Mediation Effectiveness in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue
5 The EU as a Co-Mediator in the Geneva International Discussions on South Ossetia and Abkhazia
5.1 Mediation Format and Setting
5.2 The EU’s Effectiveness as a Mediator
5.3 Conditions of EU Mediation Effectiveness
5.4 Explaining EU Mediation Effectiveness in the Geneva International Discussions
6 Conclusions
6.1 Cross-case Comparison and Causal Inferences
6.2 Interpretation of Main Findings and Implications for Research
6.3 Theoretical and Methodological Reflections
6.4 Policy Recommendations
6.5 Studying EU Mediation: The Way Forward
Annex
Julian Bergmann is a researcher at the German Development Institute/ Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Germany. His research focusses on EU policy (foreign, development, security), international mediation, and the security-development nexus.
This book explores the EU’s effectiveness as an international mediator and provides a comparative analysis of EU mediation through three case studies: the conflict over Montenegro’s independence, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, and the Geneva International Discussions on South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The book starts from the observation that the EU has emerged as an important international provider of mediation in various conflicts around the world. Against this background, the author develops an analytical framework to investigate EU mediation effectiveness that is then applied to the three cases. The main finding of the book is that EU mediation has a stabilising effect on conflict dynamics, making renewed escalation less likely and contributing to the settlement of conflict issues. At the same time, the EU’s effectiveness depends primarily on its ability to influence the conflict parties’ willingness to compromise through conditionality and diplomatic pressure.
Julian Bergmann is a researcher at the German Development Institute (Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik, DIE), Germany. His research focusses on EU policy (foreign, development, security), international mediation, and the security-development nexus.