EU Conflict Early Warning System: Objectives, Process and Guidance for Implementation

The need to improve the EU's capacity to prevent conflicts led to the creation of a conflict Early Warning System (EWS) aimed to identify where conflicts could erupt or aggravate with a view to focus attention of all actors on peacebuilding opportunities. The EWS responds to Article 21(2) (c) of the EU Treaty, which names conflict prevention as one of the EU foreign policy goals, and is a key component of the EU's Comprehensive Approach to External Conflict and Crises. It is described in more detail in the Joint Staff Working Document "EU Conflict Early Warning System: Objectives, Process and Guidance for Implementation" of January 2016.