This project is funded by the European Union

 

 

The project

European Resources for Mediation Support (ERMES) III is an EU project established by the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) under its assistance for conflict prevention, peace-building and crisis preparedness (Art.4). 

ERMES III enables the EU to provide assistance to conflict parties, third party mediators and groups participating in inclusive peace processes, in the context of local, national or international armed conflicts, or for preventive purposes. It does so through short-term operational support, technical assistance and capacity-building. ERMES complements the EU’s own diverse roles as a mediator, and political and financial supporter of mediation and dialogue efforts of others. ERMES is a global instrument.

The project is currently in its third phase, which started in August 2018 and will end in August 2021. The first two phases of ERMES (I and II) were executed from 2014-2016 and 2016-2018. These two phases were implemented by a different consortium of specialized organizations lead by Transtec.

The programme is funded and managed by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI). FPI closely cooperates with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and EU Delegations to ensure the political appropriateness of actions undertaken under ERMES.

ERMES can provide the following services:

• Short-term technical assistance to peace processes and actors;
• Facilitation of meetings and workshops, including logistical support, linked to peace processes;
• Training and coaching to peace process participants;
• Production of research papers to guide mediation actors.

ERMES can support and target the following actors:

• Conflict parties;
• International and regional organisations;
• Governments acting as mediators;
• Institutions and organisations mandated to support peace and reconciliation efforts (e.g. Peace secretariats);
• Third parties to peace processes, such as NGOs, civil society actors and community level groups.

 

Examples of ERMES services 

Syria & Yemen: To enhance  the role of women in peace processes ERMES organized several workshops and events to promote the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and enhance the role of women in peace processes. ERMES supported a workshop among Syrian women activists and networks to build cohesion and capacities on conflict analysis, negotiation skills and strategic communications. ERMES also organized a high-level dialogue between prominent Syrian and Yemeni female political representatives and representatives from civil society to share experience about the role of women in peace processes, mediation, peace building and conflict resolution.

Central African Republic: In support of the CAR Government and the African Initiative, the EU mobilised a senior expert in process design providing technical advice. The EU also organised several capacity building and strategy workshops on security arrangements, natural resources and process design. Recently, ERMES supported an analytical paper on the 2019 peace agreement.

Central Asia: ERMES supported field research on conflict risks and opportunities for dialogue in Central Asia with a focus on Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

Global exchange on mediation and dialogue: To enhance exchange on mediation and dialogue processes, ERMES supports biennial workshops, co-hosted by the United Nations (UN) Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the European External Action Service, which target intergovernmental organizations with existing mediation support capacities. The aim of these meetings is to promote engagement and the sharing of experiences for effective mediation support.

 

News

• Economic Dimensions of the Conflict in Yemen: Report published, online, February 2021
• Event report media and disinformation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, online, December 2020
• Panel on inclusion at the EU Community of Practice on Mediation, online, June 2020
• Expertise provided to the National Dialogue Planning Committee (NDPC) in Lesotho, Maseru, February 2020
• Regional Organisations Meeting on Mediation, Brussels, December 2019
• Women on the Frontlines: Lessons learnt from Syria and Yemen – panel event, New York, March 2019
• Advancing Women’s Role in Peace Processes – workshop, Brussels, December 2018
• Empowering Syrian Women - workshop, Gaziantep, November 2018

• New project awarded — European Resources for Mediation Support (ERMES III), June 2018

• ERMES III - Practitioners' Workshop - Press Release, December 2021

 

Reports & Papers

• Economic Dimensions of the Conflict in Yemen, European Union Delegation to Yemen, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), October 2020; published in February 2021
• Media and disinformation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and their role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding - Meeting report on an exploratory seminar held on 17 December 2020, ERMES III - European Resources for Mediation Support, January 2021; published in February 2021

 

Flyer

Download the flyer on the project here. 

 

How to activate ERMES: Key contacts

Requests for ERMES support can be triggered by any EU foreign policy actor or mechanism, including EU Delegations, EEAS/DEVCO geographic and thematic divisions, EUSRs and Envoys, as well as Crisis Platforms. As ERMES is funded under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), the mobilisation of the service is subject to the principle of subsidiarity, i.e. ERMES shall not be used to respond to needs which could in principle be addressed under other, mainstream geographic or thematic cooperation instruments.

Requests will be treated on a first-come-first-served basis, assessing their cost effectiveness and potential impact. The management will be under the responsibility of the ERMES Programme Manager and the ERMES Key Expert Team. The execution will be in full coordination with the entity requesting the service.

To request the support please contact:

• FPI.2 - Ms Barbara Einhäuser (Barbara.EINHAUSER@ec.europa.eu);
• EEAS Mediation Support Team- Ms Antje HERRBERG (Antje.HERRBERG@eeas.europa.eu)

For more information please contact: ERMES Team (ermes3@coleurope.eu)

 

The Consortium

The consortium responsible for implementing the ERMES III facility comprises the College of Europe , as the Consortium leader, and five consortium members: the European Centre for Electoral Support( ECES), the Institute of Research and Education on Negotiation (ESSEC IRENE),Fondation Hirondelle, Interpeace, the European Forum for International Mediation and Dialogue (MediatEUr).

The consortium members have extensive experience in providing mediation and dialogue support in the framework of international projects in volatile and challenging contexts. The consortium members have direct and rapid access to highly skilled experts, who have provided and continue to provide advice and assistance in mediation and dialogue all over the world.

Overview of the Consortium members:

• The College of Europe is a non-profit organisation and first university institute of postgraduate studies in European affairs. Next to its academic activities, the College has solid expertise in managing EU-funded projects and in delivering training through its Development Office.  https://www.coleurope.eu/about-college/development-office
• The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), a not for profit private foundation that promotes sustainable democratic development through the provision of advisory services, operational support and management of large projects in the electoral and democracy assistance field.  http://www.eces.eu/
• ESSEC IRENE, an institute specialised in mediation, negotiation, facilitation and training interventions as well as academic research in order to contribute to the advancement of sustainable peace. http://www.essec.edu/en/
• Fondation Hirondelle, a media organization working in peacebuilding and dialogue.  https://www.hirondelle.org/en/
• Interpeace, an international peacebuilding organization putting the connection between tracks 1, 2 and 3 at the center of its work. https://www.interpeace.org/
• The European Forum For International Mediation And Dialogue (MediatEUr), a centre of excellence for international peace mediation and dialogue.  http://themediateur.eu/