Event Report “European responses to territorial conflicts in the EU”

The issue of the right to self-determination has been revived in recent years within the European Union by numerous crises calling into question the territorial integrity of Member States. Previously, European institutions have engaged with territorial conflict resolutions within the EU space, through political response and community support in post-conflict settings.

On the year marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the Coppieters Foundation and Iratzar Fundazioa organized the event “European responses to territorial conflicts in the EU”. It was held in Brussels on 7 November 2023. Bringing together perspectives from Cyprus and North of Ireland, this event provided a space for discussion on those specific cases while opening up to exchanges on the role of the EU, self-determination and conflict resolution. 

The content of this report stems from the interventions of the experts and practitioners from a variety of backgrounds gathered at this conference. The purpose of this conference was to stimulate the debate (1) by offering of critical insights of the EU’s involvement in territorial conflicts of its Member States and (2) by exploring the legal basis for the EU to support post-conflict initiatives within its Member States.

This report summarizes the content of these debates and provides key takeaways on the role of the EU in managing territorial conflicts which encompasses two aspects: through political responses and through civil society support.

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This paper is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for its content or the opinions of the authors.

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