The South Caucasus region suffers from a security deficit. What role do regional security organisations play in the region and how does this relate to the positions of influential players like Russia, Turkey and the US? Is there room for a strengthened EU approach?
Post-conflict state building provides an opportunity to construct a state that works for women. However, in many cases this opportunity is being missed. In this sense, donors need effectively to integrate gender into their assistance.
The IV High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan (Korea) at the end of the year will be key for development cooperation. In the run up to the event, Spain should contribute to a greater association between donor and partner countries, especially those active in South-South cooperation.
The EU needs a more effective early warning and response system in order to match its global ambitions in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. This paper identifies key constraints and suggests ways to overcome them.
Honduras’ socio-economic situation is dire and the global economic crisis has fuelled increasing levels of poverty and unemployment. The country’s security and justice sector remains largely inefficient and is unable to safeguard security and the rule of law for its citizens. There is a crucial need for increased local ownership if EU policy is to trigger sustainable institutional change and thus further human security in Honduras.
Several Western Balkans states have taken steps towards EU integration, but the region will have to work hard for many years before it is ready to join. The upcoming accession of Croatia should serve as an example to speed up the pace of reform. Meanwhile, EU concerns with its huge internal problems could delay enlargement even further.