With one week remaining until the European elections, Search for Common Ground is urging citizens and politicians to choose for solidarity and a society that prioritizes peace in an interconnected world. “EU citizens identify peace and security as the most pressing challenge facing partner countries, something our politicians should take into account.”
With the countdown to the European elections underway, the global peacebuilding NGO Search for Common Ground calls upon citizens and politicians alike to prioritize peace and human security as fundamental pillars of the European Union’s foreign policy agenda. As election fever intensifies amongst the continent, it’s crucial to acknowledge that according to the Eurobarometer of May 2024 almost half (46%) of all citizens consider that maintaining peace and security is the most important benefit of their country’s membership to the EU.
Moreover, previous data confirm that 40% of EU citizens view “peace and security” as the most significant challenge facing partner countries. In addition, according to the World Bank, two-thirds of the global population living in extreme poverty reside in fragile or conflict-affected regions. Additionally, as of this year, 80% of all humanitarian needs worldwide will stem from conflict.
Yet, despite these statistics, and despite having a large scale war on Europe’s continent that has shaken all of us, we have not seen increased attention or support for conflict prevention or peacebuilding. On the contrary, political and diplomatic attention as well as funding for peacebuilding and conflict prevention has been going down at European and at global level, as data from OECD DAC show.
A necessity
Hilde Deman, Executive Director at Search for Common Ground, emphasizes the critical importance of investing in trust-building measures among citizens and institutions, and between states, both within Europe and beyond. “It is not a zero-sum game,” she asserts. “Engaging with and supporting partners across the world is not a diversion, but a necessity for the safety and prosperity of European citizens in an increasingly multipolar world.” The upcoming European elections present a pivotal moment for EU politics. From June 6th to 9th, more than 400 million eligible voters will have the opportunity to shape the composition of the European Parliament, marking the tenth iteration of direct elections since 1979, and thus giving the opportunity to reorient European governance.
The right to live in security
Search for Common Ground underscores the importance of a renewed commitment to peacebuilding and conflict prevention, both within Europe and on the global stage. At a time when a war is raging in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a humanitarian crisis with nearly 7 million displaced people and many other conflicts around the world are unfolding without receiving the necessary attention, Europe must be coherent in its approach to international conflicts and respect for international law. The EU must make peacebuilding and the right to live in security (for all) the main pillars of its foreign policy. This includes actively contributing to conflict prevention through diplomacy, addressing the root causes of conflicts, engaging more (and not less) in times of violent crises, and providing adequate financial resources.
