Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation

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This programme seeks to raise awareness on the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities, in order to build momentum within the European Union to address this major challenge of our time. Through a series of events, the programme brings key representatives of EU Member States and Institutions into a dialogue with international experts on genocide prevention, exploring ways to promote a coordinated and pro-active European approach to bridge the gap between early warning and early action. The intention is to promote viable options, tools and skills to strengthen European capacity to prevent genocide, while addressing the need to align the different interested institutions, governments and organisations along common approaches. Special attention will be devoted to the Responsibility to Protect principle, in particular with the aim of shifting the focus from reaction to prevention, and to integrate the concept into the EU and Member States’ policies and practice.

Background

The Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation has, for the past two years, been engaged in promoting an enhanced global role for the European Union in the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities. To this end, the Foundation has focused on two complementary lines of action: the strengthening of operational capacities for prevention, and the encouragement of greater political commitment by EU Member States and Institutions on the basis of common principles and coordinated strategies.

In 2006, the Foundation coordinated a feasibility study to explore the possibility of setting up, within the EU, an International Centre for the Prevention of Genocide. The study was conducted in partnership with the Carter Center and the Folke Bernadotte Academy, and chaired by Dr David Hamburg, President Emeritus of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The final proposal, containing recommendations for the establishment of a centre closely connected to EU decision-making processes, was endorsed by Javier Solana. Taking up the study's recommendations, the Government of Hungary is now envisaging the creation of such a Centre in Budapest, with the support of the Madariaga Foundation and its partners.

In parallel to its efforts at developing institutional capacities for prevention, the Foundation seeks to maintain a sustained focus on the need for greater EU engagement in the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities. Raising awareness through research and action, the Foundation seeks to develop conceptual consensus and a coherent framework of action on genocide prevention by EU Member States and Institutions, in order to allow the EU to effectively contribute to global efforts in this field.

Related events and reports 

The Responsibility to Protect: Where Does the EU Stand?

1 July 2008

Panel debate with Edward Luck, Special Adviser of the UN Secretary General with a focus on the Responsibility to Protect, MEP Ana Maria Gomes, Vice-Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, Morten Knudsen, General Secretariat of the Council of the EU, Richard Kuehnel, Cabinet of the Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Muriel Domenach, French EU Presidency. Moderated by Jan Wouters, Director of the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies.

Click for the Report. 

Preventing Genocide and Mass Atrocities: Our Responsibility to Prevent

13 March 2008

Panel debate with Francis Deng, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Riina Kionka, Javier Solana's Personal Representative on Human Rights, and Andrea Bartoli, Drucie French Cumbie Chair at the Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University. Moderated by James Smith, CEO of the Aegis Trust.

Click for the Report.

Partners

Folke Bernadotte Academy, Evens Foundation, Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies