The European Union As a Mediator in International Peace Negotiations

This paper focuses on the under-researched role of the European Union as a mediator in peace negotiations and examines how EU effectiveness in international mediation can be appropriately conceptualised and analysed. Drawing on concepts and approaches both of European Foreign Policy studies and international mediation research, we develop an analytical framework for investigating the European Union’s mediator effectiveness. Mediator effectiveness is analysed along two dimensions: goal-attainment and conflict settlement. The investigation of the conditions of mediator effectiveness is structured around four key sets of variables: mediator leverage, mediation strategy, coherence as well as the conflict context. To probe its empirical plausibility, we apply the framework to the case of EU mediation between Serbia and Kosovo (Belgrade-Pristina dialogue). Empirical results confirm the utility of the analytical framework and point to substantial ground for further research emanating from this study.