Since 2001, the prevention of violent conflicts has turned into a priority of the European Union's external policy. In addition to new operational competences developed under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the European Union is particularly suited to combating the root causes of conflicts spreading throughout the world. It is noteworthy that the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, signed in Rome on 29 October 2004, proposes to insert the prevention of conflicts in the Constitution.
 
In 25 original essays written by both practitioners and scholars from European institutions, international organisations, universities and NGOs, this book proposes to explore and scrutinize the progress achieved by the European Union in the definition of a concrete conflict prevention strategy, as well as the challenges it still faces.  
In particular, the book dwells on the following issues:

the definition of and indicators for conflict prevention;
1. institutional and financial dimensions of conflict prevention;
2. EU instruments for the prevention of violent conflicts;
3. structural conflict prevention and the mainstreaming of conflict prevention into EU policies;and

cooperation with other international organisations and other actors, such as NGOs and the private sector.