CLEER Conference on ‘Human security as a tool for a comprehensive approach to human rights and security linkages in EU Foreign policy’ 6 December 2013, T.M.C. Asser Instituut, The Hague.
By Dr. Aaron Matta. Senior Researcher in EU law and academic programme coordinator of CLEER, T.M.C. Asser Instituut.
The Centre for the Law of EU External Relations (CLEER) is hosted by the T.M.C. Asser Instituut in The Hague and since its establishment in 2008 it functions as a forum for debate and an authoritative research interface between academia and practice dealing with the legal aspects of the role of the EU in the world.
CLEER’s ambition is to stimulate excellence in research, reflection and teaching in EU external relations studies in higher education institutions in and outside the Union and to promote innovative solutions to practical challenges to the external dimension of the EU’s legal order.
The conference is the first event of CLEER’s project ‘Human Security: a new framework for enhanced human rights in the EU’s foreign security and migration policies’, implemented with the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) of the European Union.
The project runs from 1 September 2013 until 31 August 2014 and aims at facilitating academic interaction in closely interrelated areas of EU external conduct, creating synergies between and raising awareness of global security concerns. The project will, specifically, integrate elements of EU external action in security, development and migration policies, through the paradigm of human security.
Human security is a relatively new security concept, characterized by a multidimensional approach of the international community in an effort to respond more effectively to complex security challenges. Despite the emerging consensus in political and academic discourse about the concept as such, the operationalization of human security lags far behind at both global and regional levels. Whereas the EU has stepped up its role as a self-professed global security provider since 2003, no coherent policy and normative framework exists to consistently implement human security policy into EU external action. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and the emergence of new structures to develop and implement external action, a renewed focus on existing research on human security is needed.
The conference invites academics, legal and policy experts, policy-makers and representatives of civil society to discuss an operational framework for a distinct EU approach to security policy so as to provide effective protection and due respect to individuals’ human rights in conflict and post-conflict context. Particular attention will be given to the need for enhancing coordination and synergies of the EU’s so far fragmented toolbox addressing peace, security, stability and development issues, for the overall goal of heightened human rights protection.
The T.M.C Asser Instituut and CLEER continue to count on the kind cooperation by the embassies of the EU Member States in The Hague, and hope to welcome members of the wider diplomatic community as well.
Information regarding forthcoming conference may be found on the CLEER website: www.cleer.eu.
