EU support for democracy and peace in the world

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4.8 • 13 Ratings

🗓️ 9 November 2018

⏱️ 9 minutes

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Summary

Strengthening peace and democracy globally has never been an easy task, however, and today's geopolitical context poses new challenges. The proliferation and increasing gravity and duration of conflicts – some in the EU's immediate neighbourhood, the emergence of new threats, such as terrorism or nuclear proliferation, and the crisis of liberal systems have driven the EU to widen and intensify its efforts. They have also led to a new vision for action revolving around the concept of 'resilient societies' based on the mutually reinforcing pillars of peace and democracy, and a special emphasis on fragile states. Against this background, recent surveys have shown that citizens expect the EU to be even more active in promoting peace and democracy externally – something that should surely strengthen its resolve to make further progress in this crucial area.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/628271/EPRS_BRI(2018)628271_EN.pdf

Source: © European Union - EP

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the European Parliamentary Research Service podcast on EU support for democracy and peace in the world.
0:08.0	As an organisation that has been able to secure peace among its member states for 70 years, the EU plays an important role by supporting and inspiring other world nations to respect the universally recognized values of human rights and democracy.
0:22.6	But the emergence of new threats such as terrorism and nuclear proliferation,
0:26.6	backsliding of democracies and increasing authoritarianism in many countries,
0:30.6	and the multiplication of conflicts around the world
0:33.6	mean that supporting peace and democracy has never been so challenging.
0:38.1	Given this context, how should the EU strengthen its resolve?
0:41.0	Stay with us.
0:42.0	When in 2012, the presidents of the three main EU institutions traveled to Norway to
0:50.4	collect the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to transform Europe from a continent of war
0:54.8	into a continent of peace, many could not hold back tears. For more than the prize, the real
1:00.2	reason for celebration was peace among the European countries that fought two world wars last
1:04.8	century, over 60 years of peace, one of the longest periods in over 2,000 years.
1:09.8	As a community of like-minded states, the European project is built on the respect of fundamental values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law,
1:18.7	which the Union aspires to promote both internally and externally, and which guide all its policies and actions.
1:24.4	From trade, development, enlargement and neighbourhood policies to its common
1:27.9	foreign and security policy and political and diplomatic relations with third countries and
1:32.3	multilateral organisations. This is why over the years the EU has established a reputation as a soft
1:37.9	power, using its own example and the magnetism of being the world's largest market, to advance
1:43.1	peace and democracy globally.
1:45.0	But in the light of new global threats in a changing geopolitical context, is soft power still working?
1:50.8	Well, there's certainly debated on this, but one thing is clear.
	...

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