INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPING THE EU. MEDIATION SERVICE:
A major incentive for neighboring European and Mediterranean countries, not yet member states of the EU, to use the EUMS, would be that in so doing, and in showing the good faith involving in being prepared to resolve ongoing disputes peacefully and through negotiation and dialogue, their own eventual accession to the EU itself would thereby become more likely. The whole purpose behind the creation of the EU in its very inception, was to establish an inter-state mechanism that would make future wars unthinkable in Europe, which had experience of two huge world wars on its soil, not to mention the two preceding Balkan Wars, as well as innumerable other armed conflicts century after century. So far as the EU is concerned this had indeed seemed to work, but states on the borders of the EU have tragically witnessed several major conflicts since the end of World War 2, not least in the Balkans, and now in the Caucuses, as well as the tensions of the Cold War epoch, which also spilled over into conflicts in other theatres. A major purpose of the EUMS, therefore, would be to be prepared to act pragmatically in solving some of the detailed problems that the UN has appeared unable to solve, perhaps due to its inherent state-based architecture. If Europe, however, is indeed to foster a sense of citizenship and security among its peoples, and if a continent-wide identity is to be forged over coming generations, which will continue to ensure the peace, stability, prosperity and well being of all its member peoples, then the work of the EUMS could prove a crucial part of that important task, by providing a professional mechanism and process whereby
conflicts which could otherwise threaten the very existence of civilisation as we know it, could be resolved nonviolently and in a win-win scenario.
STATUS OF EUMS:
The Chairman of the Panel of Mediators in each member country would have automatic Cabinet rank in each member country government, and sit as an ex-officio member of the government, independent of whichever ruling party was in power. They would be excused from having to attend Cabinet meetings however, unless specific matters were to be discussed of relevance to the work of the EUMS. They would be known as the Minister for Peace with a mandate to speak for peaceful and nonviolent solutions to conflicts which might occur during their Chairmanship. The Chairmen of the EUMS in each country, as government Ministers, would also therefore have full access to intelligence channels of information, and to be able to make use of them at their discretion, only in so far as they might help solve conflicts, prevent wars and foster a climate of non-violence within and between their respective countries and their neighboring countries.
BUDGET OF THE EUMS:
The budget of the EUMS would derive from central EU funds and would be commensurate with the grave responsibility of preserving and building peace on the periphery of existing EU territories, including the entire Mediterranean rim, and through the Balkans and Caucuses regions. The potential losses to the European Union, in terms of major conflicts breaking out (again) in those territories would be incalculably large (e.g. Israel/Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Kurdistan, Iraq, Caucuses region, Russia, Ukraine, Poland etc.). Such losses would be caused by 1) loss of peaceful trade with such nations 2) Influx of economic migrants caused by domestic instability 3) Necessity of ongoing major aid assistance due to humanitarian disasters caused by wars and conflicts. The total income of the EUMS would therefore be fixed at 1% of the total military expenditure (including military intelligence) of each member country of the EU in sum, for the first 10 years of its operation. This figure would rise one percentage point each decade, thus in the second decade of its operation it would rise to 2% of the total military budgets of the member states, and so on. This calculation means that theoretically after 1000 years of operation, it would comprise 100% of the total military expenditure of each member state, but in fact it would be fixed at 99% maximally, since it is not envisaged that the need for some military expenditure would be totally removed even after such a long span of time, taking into account the past 5000 years of European history. The relative proportions of how much is spent by European nations on militarism and how much on peace and conflict resolution however, is intended to be reversed over a long span of time by the mechanism of the introduction of the EUMS into formal existence, so that this paradigm shift may take place, over time, in pragmatic reality and not merely in utopian aspiration. In the first year of its formal existence, therefore, and for the rest of that decade, the budget it would have to operate with, would be as described above, namely 1% of the total military budget of each member nation, calculated on the last but one fiscal year’s actual military expenditure, paid in advance of the year’s actual EUMS operations i.e. the budget for 2010 for the operation of the EUMS (probably the first realistic year it which it would be able to operate) would be fixed at 1% of the total of 2008 military expenditure. For mediations undertaken by the EUMS on behalf of non EU countries, or parties therein, there would be no fees charged, and it would be a free service from the European people and nations to their neighbours and other countries worldwide, as a way of apologising for the export of European wars in the past worldwide. Associate member nations who wish to join the EUMS formally, would also be required to contribute the 1% of their annual military expenditure towards its working budget.
2009 - Immediate grant to work out its protocols and pragmatic and technical and operational feasibility, including drafting of Governing Treaty for the EUMS
2010 - Preliminary Office of EUMS established within EU machinery in Brussels, with adequate budget, and founding Conference of EUMS to sign Treaty by combined EU Foreign Ministers (invitation of Associate Members to join conference)
2011 - First full year of operation of EUMS with operating budget as outlined above.
BACKGROUND TO PROPOSAL:
This policy document originates from a specialist peace research institute in the UK which deals with peace studies, conflict resolution, historical research, interfaith mediation, the formal academic study of global philosophy, and the philosophical analysis of the world situation and international affairs. It is a proposal inspired by over 25 years in depth study into conflict prevention, diplomacy, history and religious, philosophical and political studies. More specifically, it originates from the author’s recent study tour (August 2008) of several European and Middle Eastern countries, at the same time as the conflict in the Caucuses involving Georgia, Russian Federation, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. At this time the author visited Israel, Palestine, Greece, FYROM, Serbia, Slovenia and Italy. The author has been a long-standing member of the International Peace Research Association, and has served for a term as governing board member of the European Peace Research Association (EUPRA). He has served as a member of the European Coordinating Committee of the World Conference on Religions and Peace (WCRP) from 1990-1997, and attended numerous senior interfaith conferences and symposia for peace, including at the Vatican in 1997, attended by over 900 religious leaders worldwide. He has worked on projects for UNESCO and spoken twice at the UN Headquarters in New York on the role of Universities in promoting peace studies, and sits on the Commission of the International Association of University Presidents on peace studies. He has lectured for the Universities of Oxford and London on comparative philosophy and peace studies, and has also served as a secondary school teacher (religious education, history, citizenship, personal, social, and health education) in the UK education system. He was awarded his PhD for his doctoral work on Transpersonal History and the Search for Peace 1945-2001 from the University of London in 2008. The author is a dual British-Canadian citizen, and was born in Montreal, Canada in 1956.. He has travelled widely and lectured throughout Canada, the USA, India, Korea, and the Philippines etc. He teaches regularly in Rajasthan, India, and sits on the governing board of a bilingual Gaelic-English Irish University in Dublin (Saor Ollscoil na h’Eireann). He worked for the University of London to research the feasibility of establishing a major new International Institute of Peace Studies, out of which project the work of IIPSGP has grown. He has co-chaired 35 seminars in the House of Lords in the UK on Peace, Ethics and Global Policy and was elected Coordinator of International Philosophers for Peace and Global Responsibility in Moscow in 1990.
Previously, the author has visited, lectured, and undertaken various aspects of peace research in the following European and Mediterranean countries:
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
France
FYROM (Northern Macedonia)
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Israel
Italy
Morocco
Norway
Palestine
Poland
Romania
Russian Federation
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Vatican
NEXT STEPS:
This proposal is being circulated to the current Presidency of the European Union and all member states’ Prime Ministers, in the hope that a political momentum can be generated within the E.U.’s serving governments to agree the wording of a Treaty bringing the EUMS into being, and authorising a sufficient budget to run the Service efficiently and effectively. In addition to this top-down approach, and since the project is a proposal for the lasting benefit of all European Union citizens, and their neighbors, it is also being circulated to appropriate specialized peace research, mediation and conflict resolution organisations. Since it would also depend on the good will and support of the European Parliament, and the existing frameworks and mechanisms of EU institutions, it is hoped that it will be widely available and freely circulated within the EU departments and institutions. The full text of the founding treaty of the EUMS would have to be negotiated and worked out in detail by EU lawyers, on condition that the language used is simple, direct, transparent and comprehensible to every European citizen of even average educational ability. This is a project for the benefit of all the people of Europe and their neighbors, and it must be understood by them, which is not always the case with existing European Union legislation. Once the founding Treaty of the EUMS has been adopted by every member country of the EU it would become law, and the EUMS would come into formal existence. Member states would not have a right of veto on which cases should or should not come before the EUMS for consideration. This document is published in good faith by its author as a serious proposal for study and consideration by all European citizens, and those of neighboring countries, and those internationally minded citizens in other lands who support peace and goodwill worldwide. In the interim period, before it is formally adopted by Treaty and comes into effect, the proposed EUMS, can be regarded as being in a state of gestation, and during this period, we are calling for help and support from all qualified and committed people of goodwill, who are hereby invited to become DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES of the proposed EUMS. To work effectively, the EUMS will need a committed network of peace researchers, peace scholars, mediation experts and ordinary men and women from across Europe (and beyond) who are committed to making the ideals and goals of the EUMS a pragmatic reality. You are therefore invited to join this project as an Development Associate, and to assist its manifestation both in concrete and strategic ways. Please see the form at the end of this document.
RESPONSE REQUEST FROM IIPSGP (INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PEACE STUDIES AND GLOBAL PHILOSOPHY):
Please schedule all responses, at whatever level, individual, institutional, formal, political etc. to the author of this Policy Document, by e-mail ([email protected]) in the first instance. This is a working document in progress, and all positive suggestions or recommendations for improvement are welcomed. Readers can support this work by forwarding copies of this text to appropriate contacts and colleagues etc. provided that the text is not altered in any way and provided that the authorship of this document is acknowledged, to whom copyright remains. Purchase of this document in book form is also possible at www.lulu.com/iipsgp. The formal implementation of the proposed EUMS is one of several ongoing projects and goals of the IIPSGP. IIPSGP is willing to work with any and all NGO and research organisations, or formal governmental bodies, across the wider Europe, willing and able to assist the creation and implementation of the EUMS proposal. IIPSGP Director is also available for talks, interviews, seminars and lectures concerning the EUMS proposal and related projects of IIPSGP.
A major incentive for neighboring European and Mediterranean countries, not yet member states of the EU, to use the EUMS, would be that in so doing, and in showing the good faith involving in being prepared to resolve ongoing disputes peacefully and through negotiation and dialogue, their own eventual accession to the EU itself would thereby become more likely. The whole purpose behind the creation of the EU in its very inception, was to establish an inter-state mechanism that would make future wars unthinkable in Europe, which had experience of two huge world wars on its soil, not to mention the two preceding Balkan Wars, as well as innumerable other armed conflicts century after century. So far as the EU is concerned this had indeed seemed to work, but states on the borders of the EU have tragically witnessed several major conflicts since the end of World War 2, not least in the Balkans, and now in the Caucuses, as well as the tensions of the Cold War epoch, which also spilled over into conflicts in other theatres. A major purpose of the EUMS, therefore, would be to be prepared to act pragmatically in solving some of the detailed problems that the UN has appeared unable to solve, perhaps due to its inherent state-based architecture. If Europe, however, is indeed to foster a sense of citizenship and security among its peoples, and if a continent-wide identity is to be forged over coming generations, which will continue to ensure the peace, stability, prosperity and well being of all its member peoples, then the work of the EUMS could prove a crucial part of that important task, by providing a professional mechanism and process whereby
conflicts which could otherwise threaten the very existence of civilisation as we know it, could be resolved nonviolently and in a win-win scenario.
STATUS OF EUMS:
The Chairman of the Panel of Mediators in each member country would have automatic Cabinet rank in each member country government, and sit as an ex-officio member of the government, independent of whichever ruling party was in power. They would be excused from having to attend Cabinet meetings however, unless specific matters were to be discussed of relevance to the work of the EUMS. They would be known as the Minister for Peace with a mandate to speak for peaceful and nonviolent solutions to conflicts which might occur during their Chairmanship. The Chairmen of the EUMS in each country, as government Ministers, would also therefore have full access to intelligence channels of information, and to be able to make use of them at their discretion, only in so far as they might help solve conflicts, prevent wars and foster a climate of non-violence within and between their respective countries and their neighboring countries.
BUDGET OF THE EUMS:
The budget of the EUMS would derive from central EU funds and would be commensurate with the grave responsibility of preserving and building peace on the periphery of existing EU territories, including the entire Mediterranean rim, and through the Balkans and Caucuses regions. The potential losses to the European Union, in terms of major conflicts breaking out (again) in those territories would be incalculably large (e.g. Israel/Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Kurdistan, Iraq, Caucuses region, Russia, Ukraine, Poland etc.). Such losses would be caused by 1) loss of peaceful trade with such nations 2) Influx of economic migrants caused by domestic instability 3) Necessity of ongoing major aid assistance due to humanitarian disasters caused by wars and conflicts. The total income of the EUMS would therefore be fixed at 1% of the total military expenditure (including military intelligence) of each member country of the EU in sum, for the first 10 years of its operation. This figure would rise one percentage point each decade, thus in the second decade of its operation it would rise to 2% of the total military budgets of the member states, and so on. This calculation means that theoretically after 1000 years of operation, it would comprise 100% of the total military expenditure of each member state, but in fact it would be fixed at 99% maximally, since it is not envisaged that the need for some military expenditure would be totally removed even after such a long span of time, taking into account the past 5000 years of European history. The relative proportions of how much is spent by European nations on militarism and how much on peace and conflict resolution however, is intended to be reversed over a long span of time by the mechanism of the introduction of the EUMS into formal existence, so that this paradigm shift may take place, over time, in pragmatic reality and not merely in utopian aspiration. In the first year of its formal existence, therefore, and for the rest of that decade, the budget it would have to operate with, would be as described above, namely 1% of the total military budget of each member nation, calculated on the last but one fiscal year’s actual military expenditure, paid in advance of the year’s actual EUMS operations i.e. the budget for 2010 for the operation of the EUMS (probably the first realistic year it which it would be able to operate) would be fixed at 1% of the total of 2008 military expenditure. For mediations undertaken by the EUMS on behalf of non EU countries, or parties therein, there would be no fees charged, and it would be a free service from the European people and nations to their neighbours and other countries worldwide, as a way of apologising for the export of European wars in the past worldwide. Associate member nations who wish to join the EUMS formally, would also be required to contribute the 1% of their annual military expenditure towards its working budget.
2009 - Immediate grant to work out its protocols and pragmatic and technical and operational feasibility, including drafting of Governing Treaty for the EUMS
2010 - Preliminary Office of EUMS established within EU machinery in Brussels, with adequate budget, and founding Conference of EUMS to sign Treaty by combined EU Foreign Ministers (invitation of Associate Members to join conference)
2011 - First full year of operation of EUMS with operating budget as outlined above.
BACKGROUND TO PROPOSAL:
This policy document originates from a specialist peace research institute in the UK which deals with peace studies, conflict resolution, historical research, interfaith mediation, the formal academic study of global philosophy, and the philosophical analysis of the world situation and international affairs. It is a proposal inspired by over 25 years in depth study into conflict prevention, diplomacy, history and religious, philosophical and political studies. More specifically, it originates from the author’s recent study tour (August 2008) of several European and Middle Eastern countries, at the same time as the conflict in the Caucuses involving Georgia, Russian Federation, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. At this time the author visited Israel, Palestine, Greece, FYROM, Serbia, Slovenia and Italy. The author has been a long-standing member of the International Peace Research Association, and has served for a term as governing board member of the European Peace Research Association (EUPRA). He has served as a member of the European Coordinating Committee of the World Conference on Religions and Peace (WCRP) from 1990-1997, and attended numerous senior interfaith conferences and symposia for peace, including at the Vatican in 1997, attended by over 900 religious leaders worldwide. He has worked on projects for UNESCO and spoken twice at the UN Headquarters in New York on the role of Universities in promoting peace studies, and sits on the Commission of the International Association of University Presidents on peace studies. He has lectured for the Universities of Oxford and London on comparative philosophy and peace studies, and has also served as a secondary school teacher (religious education, history, citizenship, personal, social, and health education) in the UK education system. He was awarded his PhD for his doctoral work on Transpersonal History and the Search for Peace 1945-2001 from the University of London in 2008. The author is a dual British-Canadian citizen, and was born in Montreal, Canada in 1956.. He has travelled widely and lectured throughout Canada, the USA, India, Korea, and the Philippines etc. He teaches regularly in Rajasthan, India, and sits on the governing board of a bilingual Gaelic-English Irish University in Dublin (Saor Ollscoil na h’Eireann). He worked for the University of London to research the feasibility of establishing a major new International Institute of Peace Studies, out of which project the work of IIPSGP has grown. He has co-chaired 35 seminars in the House of Lords in the UK on Peace, Ethics and Global Policy and was elected Coordinator of International Philosophers for Peace and Global Responsibility in Moscow in 1990.
Previously, the author has visited, lectured, and undertaken various aspects of peace research in the following European and Mediterranean countries:
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
France
FYROM (Northern Macedonia)
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Israel
Italy
Morocco
Norway
Palestine
Poland
Romania
Russian Federation
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Vatican
NEXT STEPS:
This proposal is being circulated to the current Presidency of the European Union and all member states’ Prime Ministers, in the hope that a political momentum can be generated within the E.U.’s serving governments to agree the wording of a Treaty bringing the EUMS into being, and authorising a sufficient budget to run the Service efficiently and effectively. In addition to this top-down approach, and since the project is a proposal for the lasting benefit of all European Union citizens, and their neighbors, it is also being circulated to appropriate specialized peace research, mediation and conflict resolution organisations. Since it would also depend on the good will and support of the European Parliament, and the existing frameworks and mechanisms of EU institutions, it is hoped that it will be widely available and freely circulated within the EU departments and institutions. The full text of the founding treaty of the EUMS would have to be negotiated and worked out in detail by EU lawyers, on condition that the language used is simple, direct, transparent and comprehensible to every European citizen of even average educational ability. This is a project for the benefit of all the people of Europe and their neighbors, and it must be understood by them, which is not always the case with existing European Union legislation. Once the founding Treaty of the EUMS has been adopted by every member country of the EU it would become law, and the EUMS would come into formal existence. Member states would not have a right of veto on which cases should or should not come before the EUMS for consideration. This document is published in good faith by its author as a serious proposal for study and consideration by all European citizens, and those of neighboring countries, and those internationally minded citizens in other lands who support peace and goodwill worldwide. In the interim period, before it is formally adopted by Treaty and comes into effect, the proposed EUMS, can be regarded as being in a state of gestation, and during this period, we are calling for help and support from all qualified and committed people of goodwill, who are hereby invited to become DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES of the proposed EUMS. To work effectively, the EUMS will need a committed network of peace researchers, peace scholars, mediation experts and ordinary men and women from across Europe (and beyond) who are committed to making the ideals and goals of the EUMS a pragmatic reality. You are therefore invited to join this project as an Development Associate, and to assist its manifestation both in concrete and strategic ways. Please see the form at the end of this document.
RESPONSE REQUEST FROM IIPSGP (INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PEACE STUDIES AND GLOBAL PHILOSOPHY):
Please schedule all responses, at whatever level, individual, institutional, formal, political etc. to the author of this Policy Document, by e-mail ([email protected]) in the first instance. This is a working document in progress, and all positive suggestions or recommendations for improvement are welcomed. Readers can support this work by forwarding copies of this text to appropriate contacts and colleagues etc. provided that the text is not altered in any way and provided that the authorship of this document is acknowledged, to whom copyright remains. Purchase of this document in book form is also possible at www.lulu.com/iipsgp. The formal implementation of the proposed EUMS is one of several ongoing projects and goals of the IIPSGP. IIPSGP is willing to work with any and all NGO and research organisations, or formal governmental bodies, across the wider Europe, willing and able to assist the creation and implementation of the EUMS proposal. IIPSGP Director is also available for talks, interviews, seminars and lectures concerning the EUMS proposal and related projects of IIPSGP.