By Bonnie Klap.
Within the short time span of just a few months three important events have taken place or are about to take place in The Netherlands. First of all, on April 30 the Coronation of the new Dutch King Willem-Alexander took place. He succeeded his Mother, Queen Beatrix, to the throne, after her 33 years of reign. In August, on the 28th to be exact, the world famous icon of Peace and Justice, the Peace Palace in The Hague, will celebrate its centennial anniversary. And last but certainly not least, I would like to present to you the very first edition of the Diplomat Magazine of The Hague. The Hague is known as the International City of Peace and Justice. It is not only the home to the Diplomatic Corps, but it also has 131 International Institutions and Organizations.
Diplomat Magazine, inaugural issue, 2013, The Hague
Moreover, and perhaps unknown to many, The Hague is the United Nationsâ second city only after New York. Hence it is obvious that, considering the high number of Diplomats and the thousands of people working toward world peace in The Hague, introducing the Diplomat Magazine will almost certainly fill a need. In several major cities such as London, Paris, Berlin and Ottawa, to name a few, a Diplomat Magazine has been available for some time and with good reason! It is a well known fact that Diplomats are very busy people, but at the same time, they want to stay informed in a convenient and efficient manner.
Publisher Robert Buurke and Dr. Eugenio Matos, Honorary Associate Publisher, currently Charge d’affaires a.i. at the Dominican Republic Embassy in The Hague, in front of the Peace Palace before Diplomat Magazine’s launching.
From now on that information, be it local news, entertainment, interviews, events,  leisure or entertainment suggestions are just a mouse-click away.  Speak to any Diplomat posted in The Hague and they will praise the international flavor of The Hague. What better way is there to improve their impression of this vibrant and cosmopolitan city than to keep them up-to-date on everything newsworthy for the Diplomatic Community by reading the Diplomat Magazine?
Whatâs more, in this era of speedy, accessable information, the Diplomat Magazine of The Hague is a welcome addition to the list of âFavoritesâ to click onto on your computer. I hope and expect that the Diplomat Magazine of The Hague will from now on  provide you with all the news you require and will make living and working for the Diplomatic Community here an even more interesting and pleasant experience.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
In ancient times, diplomatic correspondence between the Egyptian pharaohs and kings in Assyria, Anatolia and Mesopotamia took place via clay tablets. In 1887, 350 of these clay tablets, referred to as the Amarna Letters, were unearthed in the ancient city of El-Amarna in Egypt. Communication in general has come a long way since the times of the Amarna Letters.
As of June 2013, communication within the diplomatic community in the Netherlands will be bolstered by the introduction of an online Diplomat Magazine.
As we approach the second half of 2013, which so far has been an inspiring year. Major events have taken place worldwide, from the election of Pope Francis in March, to Paris Saint-Germain winning the football championship in France, and the inauguration of former ICC judge Anthony Carmona SC as president of Trinidad and Tobago.
On the 19th of June 2013, another significant event will take place at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel in The Hague. The first ever electronic magazine for diplomats in the Netherlands will be launched by the Mayor of The Hague, the city of peace and justice, Mr. Jozias van Aartsen. The magazine will be known as the Diplomat Magazine.
The Diplomat Magazine is the brainchild of Dr. Eugenio Matos G, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic and a team of lawyers and diplomats in The Hague.
The magazine will be issued monthly with the objective of maximising effective communication and provoking intelligent discussion within the diplomatic and international community in the Netherlands. The Diplomat Magazine, as well as providing a plethora of useful information, will also be an excellent platform for diplomatic missions, international institutions and others to share information about their activities.
Bienvenue to the Diplomat Magazine, letâs all make our personal contribution to its success.
FOR FULL PHOTO-ALBUM OF THIS EVENT PLEASE CLICK HERE:Â https://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/72157634347253758/First co-founders of Diplomat Magazine in front of the Peace Palace.Publisher Robert Buurke and Dr. Eugenio Matos G, Honorary Associate Publisher in front of the Peace Palace in The Hague.The author is Associate Editor of Diplomat Magazine and a dedicated expat-international and diplomatic community chronicler in The Hague.
By Petra van der Ham,Managing Director UPEACE The Hague, Peace Palace.
The University for Peace (UPEACE) has been founded in 1980 by the General Assembly of the United Nations in order to give substance to its peace and security objectives. UPEACE fosters strong ties with various components of the UN-system, among which the UN Secretariat. The mission of UPEACE is to become an international institute for higher education for the entire humanity.
The headquarters of UPEACE are situated in Costa Rica, with its own campus and various facilities for students, employees and visitors. At this international academic institution for peace and peace related issues, research and education go hand in hand. At UPEACE, experts are brought together with students from all over the world, in order to educate a new generation of peace negotiators. They are being trained to bring peace to a global level, to manage conflicts and to uphold human rights. Mobilizing worldwide support, awareness and education of the (world) population plays an important role.
Throughout its over thirty years of existence, UPEACE has developed a range of master- and capacity building programmes in the field of peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Its core staff, together with visiting professors: mainly UN personnel, (former) diplomats, academics and experts from all over the world, provide courses and trainings for students as well as for professionals from different backgrounds.
Currently UPEACE offers 11 master programmes for approx. 200 master students from 100 different countries. Besides, approx. 150 students study at the affiliated centres. About half of these students are from developing countries; they can often apply for scholarships with the UPEACE Scholarship programme. In recent years UPEACE has also substantially invested in the development of online programmes and âdistance learningâ.
After their stay in Costa Rica, UPEACE alumni frequently return to their home countries to work at (inter)national government institutions, NGOs, universities or in the private sector. In many countries they are actively involved in the process of peacebuilding and -keeping.
Meanwhile there are centres in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Manila, Montevideo, Seoul and, from 2012 on, The Hague, resulting in UPEACE increasingly becoming a global network organization. In addition, numerous cooperation agreements have been established with universities and peace organizations worldwide. The new Centre in The Hague, as the representative of UPEACE in the European Union, will constitute an important part of this international network. As of January 2012, this centre, in short UPEACE The Hague, is located in the AcademyBuilding of the PeacePalace.
UPEACE The Hague focuses on education and research in the field of peace issues, in close cooperation with renowned academic and policy-oriented institutes in The Hague region. This focus on cooperation is an important principle of the new Centre: UPEACE The Hague aims to be complementary to existing organizations by specifically focusing on peace education, an area that is still relatively underdeveloped.
UPEACE The Hague is an autonomous institute with sufficient academic freedom to develop its own programmes. Its mission and objectives fall within the framework of the Charter of the University for Peace, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Earth Charter. In this way, UPEACE The Hague supports and strengthens the international academic expertise of UPEACE, in cooperation with its affiliated centres and offices worldwide.
For the time being UPEACE The Hague focuses on three areas where it can be innovative and complementary: Peace and Conflict Studies, Water and Peace, and Urban Peace and Security. An important characteristic is the emphasis on interaction between theory and practice, with a strong policy-oriented character. This combination makes its programmes attractive to students, academics and professionals alike.
In the academic year 2012-2013 it has contributed to the educational curricula of Leiden University College The Hague and The Hague University of Applied Sciences, by offering courses on Peace and Conflict Studies to their bachelor students. Further cooperation is foreseen for the coming years, resulting in, for instance, a joint master program in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Furthermore UPEACE The Hague has entered into partnerships with International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (2010) and with UNESCO-IHE Delft (2011). The purpose of these partnerships is to develop joint research and educational programmes and to promote exchange of lecturers and students.
In this way, UPEACE The Hague aims to grow into a European UPEACE expertise and knowledge Centre. The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice, with its growing constellation of international institutes in these areas, is considered a perfect city for such ambitious outreach.
More information: www.upeace.nl and www.upeace.org
By Dr. Tamara TakĂĄcs.
CLEER Presidency lecture series at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut.
The Centre for the Law of EU External relations (CLEER) is hosted by the T.M.C Asser Instituut and since its inception in 2008 it has played an active role in focusing on one of the most dynamically changing areas of EU law, offering a platform for discussion and implementing various activities through which to connect those interested in the European Unionâs actions on the global plane.
In line with the T.M.C Asser Instituutâs longstanding mission, which is to promote the study and understanding of International and European law, the Centre has established a unique network composed of academics as well as practitioners in Europe and increasingly, globally.
Since 2011, a special lecture series complements the events organised by Asser/CLEER, which provides focus on a specific segment of EU external actions: the role of the incumbent presidencies in coordination and leadership in regional and global issues.
With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EUâs conduct of international affairs has been impacted by the introduction of the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European External Action Service, the EUâs âdiplomatic armâ.Nevertheless, the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU still imposes coordinating and representation challenges for the incumbent countries, and offers the opportunity to create âownershipâ of EU-related issues at home, gain political influence by leadership and create a positive image to the outside world. The CLEER Presidency lecture series looks at the presidency terms in retrospect, so as to assess how the country fulfilled these aspirations and what its actions mean for the European Unionâs international relations.
 The Presidency lecture series has been organised with great success to review the experiences of the Hungarian (2011), Polish (2012), Danish (2012) and most recently, the Cyprus (2013) presidencies of the EU Council in the area of EU external relations. Representatives of ambassadorial rank provided clear insights to the major challenges and achievements in representation, negotiation and coordination at the helm of the EU Council.
The lecture series has been particularly successful in engaging the diplomatic contingent of incumbent Presidencies posted in The Hague, giving them the opportunity to share their experiences with the broad networks of the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and CLEER.
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 lecture series may be found on the CLEER website: www.cleer.eu.
The author is a Senior researcher in EU law
Academic programme coordinator of CLEER
T.M.C. Asser Instituut. She is founder contributing-writer of Diplomat Magazine.
By Richard T. Griffiths (Associate Editor Diplomat Magazine and Professor International Studies, LeidenUniversity).
Earlier this year, the influential Times Higher Educational Supplement (THES) published its rankings for universities based on their international reputations. As usual the list is dominated by Anglo-Saxon universities but Asian countries are beginning to make an impression. And as usual. not one Dutch university made it into the top fifty, though five managed to figure in the top one hundred â Delft, UvA, Utrecht, Leiden and Wageningen. But does it mean that there is no top university education to be found in the country? Of course not.
There is plenty of top education and research in the Netherlands, it is just not all to be found in one place. A university is an administrative unit, not a teaching or research unit. The aggregated figures represent the efforts of many different faculties and even more opleideingen. The THES provides world rankings for six subject clusters, and Dutch faculties appear in the top-50 in five of them. Wageningen (21) for Life Sciences, Leiden (26) for Arts and Humanities, Delft (32) for Engineering, Rotterdam (48) and Maastricht (49) for Health and medicine and Utrecht (50) for Social sciences. It is only in Physical Sciences that no Dutch university is represented.
We can repeat the exercise at a lower level, which we can conceive of as departments, if we use the slightly less renowned QS indicators for 2013 (which were published in May). It allows us to access 29 subject rankings. In 23 of them, Dutch universities appear in the top-50, and in all but one they are represented in the top 100. I have shown the top-50s by university:
Amsterdam (UvA): Computer and Media Studies (7) Linguistics (15), Sociology (16), Psychology (16),Geography (21), Computer Science (35), Politics and International studies (38), Philosophy(47) Medicine (47)
Amsterdam (VU): Sociology (33) Psychology (46)
Delft: Civil Engineering (4), Chemical Engineering (10), Environmental Science (17), Mechanical Engineering (18), Electrical Engineering (42)
Leiden: Pharmacy (11), Linguistics (23), Law (26), History (28), Politics and International studies (35)
Maastricht: Psychology (37)
Nijmegen: Linguistics (35)
Rotterdam: Medicine (26), Statistics and Organisation (40), Economics (40), Accountancy and Finance (40)
Tilburg: Economics (45)
Utrecht: Geography (21), Sociology (21), Law (35), Psychology (40), Education (43), Earth and Marine Science (46), History (48)
Wageningen: Agricultural Science (2) Environmental Science (10)
In brief, we clearly have university teaching and research that can hold its own with the best in the World. So why no top universities? Part of the answer lies in the fact these indices all favour large universities. In the Netherlands, however, the system has been fragmented by  historically determined disciplinary and religious divisions and by a political ideal of regional accessibility. Thus, of the thirteen universities in the Netherlands, two were specifically Catholic (Nijmengen and Tilburg) and one Calvinist (VU, Amsterdam). Two originated as specialist Economics institutions (Rotterdam and Tilburg) and three as technical universities (Delft, Eindhoven and Twente) and when, in the1970s, it was decided to establish a new university, it was placed in Maastricht.
So, if you cannot fuse institutions and you cannot privilege ânational championsâ then the only option left is to allow the proven, better faculties and departments more freedom to internationalise their teaching and research. The Ministry of Education continually weighs and assesses teaching and research and lays a heavy hand of bureaucracy on each and every new initiative. Give the best their head and allow them to develop new English-language courses alongside the present Dutch ones (and finance them immediately instead of after a delay of two years as at present). In this way they will attract thousands of new students who in three or four yearsâ time will travel the wrold as ambassadors for the quality of top Dutch teaching and research. And see then what happens to the Netherlands reputation in international rankings.
By Michel QULLĂ, Deputy Director Operations, Europol, The Hague.
First of all, I would like to say that I am honoured and proud to contribute to the first issue of Diplomatic Magazine in the Netherlands. In fact, it is a result of my first encounter with Charge d’affaires a.i. of the Dominican Republic Embassy in The Hague, Dr. Eugenio Matos G (Diplomat Magazine Associate Publisher) during a welcome reception offered by Her Majesty, Queen Beatrix on 16 January, 2013 at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.
Europol, our organisation located in The Hague, maintains close links with the international community of the city, in the broader sense but also with its citizens. Despite this location, our organisation should be better known by the Dutch citizens. It is for us a good opportunity to increase our visibility in the Netherlands.
Europol (777 staff) is the law enforcement agency of the European Union. Our aim is to help achieve a safer Europe by supporting the law enforcement agencies of European Union Member States in their fight against international serious crime and terrorism.
More than 700 staff at Europol headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands, work closely with law enforcement agencies in the 27 European Union Member States and in other non-EU partner states such as Australia, Canada, the USA, Norway and Colombia.
As Europol officers have no direct powers of arrest, we support law enforcement colleagues by gathering, analysing and disseminating information and coordinating operations. Our partners use the input to prevent, detect and investigate offences, and to track down and prosecute those who commit them. Europol experts and analysts take part in Joint Investigation Teams which help solve criminal cases on the spot in EU countries.
Europol personnel come from different kinds of law enforcement agencies, including regular police, border police, customs and security services. This multi-agency approach helps to close information gaps and minimise the space in which criminals can operate.
Some 130 Europol Liaison Officers are based at Europol headquarters. These ELOs are seconded to Europol by the EU Member States and our non-EU partners. They guarantee fast and effective cooperation based on personal contact and mutual trust.
By Mitesh D. Mistry.Â
There has been much talk about America’s ‘culture of violence’. Through violent video games, graphic movies and fictional stories, it seems to many that this violent culture has transpired to reality.
In one month alone, America has seen numerous devastating and catastrophic shootings occur in shopping malls, public areas but most frequently, schools. In Newtown (Connecticut) twenty young students were killed in a rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In Taft (California) a gunman was caught and charged with two attempts of murder at Taft Union High School. In Detroit (Michigan) a 16 year old was shot at Osborne High School. In St. Louis Missouri, an administrator was shot at by a student at Stevens Institute of Business and Arts. The list is becoming endless; and this is worrying.
Throughout America, the idea to ban guns and assault weapons is widely supported; especially by parents. Most firearms including assault rifles are designed for military and combat; therefore making them redundant for use in the public domain.
But there is strong opposition. Why? It’s quite simple. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”. The 2nd amendment decree’s that Americans have the freedom and liberty to possess firearms; and anything less would be an infringement of the constitution and rights of the people. The NRA continue to question Obama’s policy decision making. With a strong opposition like this, the President will find it hard to change the law or come up with any kind of resolution.
The situation and future America faces is upsetting; emphasized with the tears shed by President himself. Whatever happens in America, I just hope it is for the best; and with President Obama entering his final four years in office, he will be looking to leave a lasting legacy on America.
I think this is his chance.
 The author is Diplomat Magazine’s Associate Editor in London, UK.
Official diplomatic sources informed Diplomat Magazine that at least 500,000 tourists will fly to Rio de Janeiro during Pope Francisâ visit, to celebrate the World Youth Day (WYD) this coming July. The data was confirmed by Civil Aviation Minister Moreira Franco. According to a Dutch travel agency in Amsterdam, some 5000 travellers from the Netherlands alone have reserved plane travel ticket to Brazil for this purpose.
Minister Franco said that the government is engaged in a âcontingency planâ at the GaleĂŁo â AntĂŽnio Carlos Jobim International Airport to enhance Pope Francisâ security in Brazil.
In regards to the number of tourist, Brazilian authorities in Rio, Â GaleĂŁo â AntĂŽnio Carlos Jobim International Airport receives some 14 million passengers a year and is undergoing a modernization plan for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
World Youth Day will take place from July 23-28 in Rio de Janeiro, where there are expected to be more than 2.5 million visitors. The tour will mark Pope Francisâ first international expedition.
By Ambassador Paramjit Sahai, (DiploFoundation, Malta).Â
The world attention was focussed on the historic General Elections in Pakistan in May  2013, amidst an air of excitement and trepidation, as these signified transfer of civilian power, for the first time in the 67 years of its existence. There were also concerns over Armyâs role and fears of likely disruption by the terrorist outfits. The return of General Musharraf to Pakistan, to join the election fray, added an element of drama. So did truancy played by Bilawal Bhutto, leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), through his frequent visits to UAE, symbolically signifying abdication of leadership mantle, well before the elections.
The election process was completed peacefully, with a turnover of over 60 per cent of around 86 million voters, including a significant portion of women and youth voters. The election results were  a decisive victory for Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) was victorious, securing close to majority of the seats; a positive development , thereby avoiding political uncertainties of a hung Parliament. The other two parties- the ruling party-PPP and Imran Khanâs Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)- were a distant second and third. This vote was against the incumbent PPP for lack of governance and mismanagement of the economy.
A negative outcome, was  the emergence of sub-nationalism, as each of the three main parties managed to secure seats in their respective areas of dominance â PML in Punjab, PPP in Sindh and PTI in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It was also for change, but for change with governance experience, as shown in the choice for Nawaz Sharif rather than for the Cricketer Imran Khan, heart throb of the youth. Nawaz Sharif would, therefore, become Prime Minister for the third time, after a lapse of fourteen years, which may turn out to be lucky for him and the country.
The election results received catchy headlines in leading English dailies in India, each conveying a message. Some of these were: âPakistanis vote for changeâ; âPakistanâs âYesâ we can momentâ; âDemocracy wins, federation losesâ and âMinorities in a Naya Pakistanâ. All these headlines conveyed a clear message that economic development and governance would be the guiding deities of âNayaâ (New) Pakistan. India-bashing was missing from the election campaign.
Internally, Sharif has a daunting task, as he undertakes immediate steps to uplift the economy, while containing the menance from terrorism. His maturity and political acumen would be tested in the appointments of President, Army Chief and the Chief Justice of Supreme Court. He has to ensure peace and stability, as he integrates dominant Punjabis with other sub-national groups.
Externally, Sharif will have to delicately balance relationship with USA, as he protects Pakistanâs sovereignty and not let it be drowned in drone attacks; provide political space to other regional players in its declared strategic backyard of Afghanistan and adopt a friendly posture towards India, as dictated by Pakistanâs economic compulsions.
What is of importance for India in this election? The results have been received positively by the leaders and peoples, who see this as a strengthening of democratic forces. Exchange of warm congratulatory messages has already set the tone, with Sharif promising to pick up the threads, from where he left in 1999.  Sharif has reiterated now his earlier statement that good relations with India were crucial for Pakistan.
The moot question still remains. Would Sharif be able to deliver on his promises, as he traverses the chosen path. He will also have to âWalk the Talkâ with India, in taking concrete steps to prevent Pakistan from being used as a launch pad for terrorist activities in India. We all live in a world of hope and  we expect to see these positive vibes, leading to peace and friendship, as herein lies  salvation, for two peoples and two countries and world at large.
About the author:Joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1963 and superannuated in August 2000. Had been posted to a number of diplomatic missions in Singapore, Moscow, Aden, WashingtonDC, Lusaka, Stockholm and Kuala Lumpur. Served as Indiaâs Ambassador/High Commissioner to Malawi, Lesotho, PDR Yemen, Sweden, Latvia and Malaysia. Was posted as Deputy Chief of Mission at Moscow during 1991-92 and was involved with the establishment of Indiaâs diplomatic relations with the newly independent countries and visits of leaders from Central Asia to India. Presently working as Hony Principal Advisor, Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID, Chandigarh) and Faculty Member, DiploFoundation, Malta. Involved with academic work in the areas of Consular, Cultural and Economic Diplomacy, Indian Diaspora, Migration and Indiaâs relationship with USA, Russia, Caucasus, South, South East and Central Asia. Has contributed papers to a number of Publications and edited three books – âIndia-Eurasia: The Way Aheadâ (2008) and âWomen Guiding the Destiny of South Asiaâ (2010), ‘Indian Diaspora: Migration and Development with focus on the State of Punjab’ (2012)Â
Currently UPEACE offers 11 master programmes for approx. 200 master students from 100 different countries. Besides, approx. 150 students study at the affiliated centres. About half of these students are from developing countries; they can often apply for scholarships with the UPEACE Scholarship programme. In recent years UPEACE has also substantially invested in the development of online programmes and âdistance learningâ.
After their stay in Costa Rica, UPEACE alumni frequently return to their home countries to work at (inter)national government institutions, NGOs, universities or in the private sector. In many countries they are actively involved in the process of peacebuilding and -keeping.
Meanwhile there are centres in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Manila, Montevideo, Seoul and, from 2012 on, The Hague, resulting in UPEACE increasingly becoming a global network organization. In addition, numerous cooperation agreements have been established with universities and peace organizations worldwide. The new Centre in The Hague, as the representative of UPEACE in the European Union, will constitute an important part of this international network. As of January 2012, this centre, in short UPEACE The Hague, is located in the AcademyBuilding of the PeacePalace.
UPEACE The Hague focuses on education and research in the field of peace issues, in close cooperation with renowned academic and policy-oriented institutes in The Hague region. This focus on cooperation is an important principle of the new Centre: UPEACE The Hague aims to be complementary to existing organizations by specifically focusing on peace education, an area that is still relatively underdeveloped.
UPEACE The Hague is an autonomous institute with sufficient academic freedom to develop its own programmes. Its mission and objectives fall within the framework of the Charter of the University for Peace, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Earth Charter. In this way, UPEACE The Hague supports and strengthens the international academic expertise of UPEACE, in cooperation with its affiliated centres and offices worldwide.
For the time being UPEACE The Hague focuses on three areas where it can be innovative and complementary: Peace and Conflict Studies, Water and Peace, and Urban Peace and Security. An important characteristic is the emphasis on interaction between theory and practice, with a strong policy-oriented character. This combination makes its programmes attractive to students, academics and professionals alike.
In the academic year 2012-2013 it has contributed to the educational curricula of Leiden University College The Hague and The Hague University of Applied Sciences, by offering courses on Peace and Conflict Studies to their bachelor students. Further cooperation is foreseen for the coming years, resulting in, for instance, a joint master program in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Furthermore UPEACE The Hague has entered into partnerships with International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (2010) and with UNESCO-IHE Delft (2011). The purpose of these partnerships is to develop joint research and educational programmes and to promote exchange of lecturers and students.
In this way, UPEACE The Hague aims to grow into a European UPEACE expertise and knowledge Centre. The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice, with its growing constellation of international institutes in these areas, is considered a perfect city for such ambitious outreach.
More information: www.upeace.nl and www.upeace.org 
Currently UPEACE offers 11 master programmes for approx. 200 master students from 100 different countries. Besides, approx. 150 students study at the affiliated centres. About half of these students are from developing countries; they can often apply for scholarships with the UPEACE Scholarship programme. In recent years UPEACE has also substantially invested in the development of online programmes and âdistance learningâ.
After their stay in Costa Rica, UPEACE alumni frequently return to their home countries to work at (inter)national government institutions, NGOs, universities or in the private sector. In many countries they are actively involved in the process of peacebuilding and -keeping.
Meanwhile there are centres in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Manila, Montevideo, Seoul and, from 2012 on, The Hague, resulting in UPEACE increasingly becoming a global network organization. In addition, numerous cooperation agreements have been established with universities and peace organizations worldwide. The new Centre in The Hague, as the representative of UPEACE in the European Union, will constitute an important part of this international network. As of January 2012, this centre, in short UPEACE The Hague, is located in the AcademyBuilding of the PeacePalace.
UPEACE The Hague focuses on education and research in the field of peace issues, in close cooperation with renowned academic and policy-oriented institutes in The Hague region. This focus on cooperation is an important principle of the new Centre: UPEACE The Hague aims to be complementary to existing organizations by specifically focusing on peace education, an area that is still relatively underdeveloped.
UPEACE The Hague is an autonomous institute with sufficient academic freedom to develop its own programmes. Its mission and objectives fall within the framework of the Charter of the University for Peace, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Earth Charter. In this way, UPEACE The Hague supports and strengthens the international academic expertise of UPEACE, in cooperation with its affiliated centres and offices worldwide.
For the time being UPEACE The Hague focuses on three areas where it can be innovative and complementary: Peace and Conflict Studies, Water and Peace, and Urban Peace and Security. An important characteristic is the emphasis on interaction between theory and practice, with a strong policy-oriented character. This combination makes its programmes attractive to students, academics and professionals alike.
In the academic year 2012-2013 it has contributed to the educational curricula of Leiden University College The Hague and The Hague University of Applied Sciences, by offering courses on Peace and Conflict Studies to their bachelor students. Further cooperation is foreseen for the coming years, resulting in, for instance, a joint master program in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Furthermore UPEACE The Hague has entered into partnerships with International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (2010) and with UNESCO-IHE Delft (2011). The purpose of these partnerships is to develop joint research and educational programmes and to promote exchange of lecturers and students.
In this way, UPEACE The Hague aims to grow into a European UPEACE expertise and knowledge Centre. The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice, with its growing constellation of international institutes in these areas, is considered a perfect city for such ambitious outreach.
More information: www.upeace.nl and www.upeace.org 
In line with the T.M.C Asser Instituutâs longstanding mission, which is to promote the study and understanding of International and European law, the Centre has established a unique network composed of academics as well as practitioners in Europe and increasingly, globally.
Since 2011, a special lecture series complements the events organised by Asser/CLEER, which provides focus on a specific segment of EU external actions: the role of the incumbent presidencies in coordination and leadership in regional and global issues.
With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EUâs conduct of international affairs has been impacted by the introduction of the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European External Action Service, the EUâs âdiplomatic armâ. Nevertheless, the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU still imposes coordinating and representation challenges for the incumbent countries, and offers the opportunity to create âownershipâ of EU-related issues at home, gain political influence by leadership and create a positive image to the outside world. The CLEER Presidency lecture series looks at the presidency terms in retrospect, so as to assess how the country fulfilled these aspirations and what its actions mean for the European Unionâs international relations.
 The Presidency lecture series has been organised with great success to review the experiences of the Hungarian (2011), Polish (2012), Danish (2012) and most recently, the Cyprus (2013) presidencies of the EU Council in the area of EU external relations. Representatives of ambassadorial rank provided clear insights to the major challenges and achievements in representation, negotiation and coordination at the helm of the EU Council.
The lecture series has been particularly successful in engaging the diplomatic contingent of incumbent Presidencies posted in The Hague, giving them the opportunity to share their experiences with the broad networks of the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and CLEER.
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 lecture series may be found on the CLEER website: www.cleer.eu.
The author is a Senior researcher in EU law
Academic programme coordinator of CLEER
T.M.C. Asser Instituut. She is founder contributing-writer of Diplomat Magazine. 
In line with the T.M.C Asser Instituutâs longstanding mission, which is to promote the study and understanding of International and European law, the Centre has established a unique network composed of academics as well as practitioners in Europe and increasingly, globally.
Since 2011, a special lecture series complements the events organised by Asser/CLEER, which provides focus on a specific segment of EU external actions: the role of the incumbent presidencies in coordination and leadership in regional and global issues.
With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EUâs conduct of international affairs has been impacted by the introduction of the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European External Action Service, the EUâs âdiplomatic armâ. Nevertheless, the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU still imposes coordinating and representation challenges for the incumbent countries, and offers the opportunity to create âownershipâ of EU-related issues at home, gain political influence by leadership and create a positive image to the outside world. The CLEER Presidency lecture series looks at the presidency terms in retrospect, so as to assess how the country fulfilled these aspirations and what its actions mean for the European Unionâs international relations.
 The Presidency lecture series has been organised with great success to review the experiences of the Hungarian (2011), Polish (2012), Danish (2012) and most recently, the Cyprus (2013) presidencies of the EU Council in the area of EU external relations. Representatives of ambassadorial rank provided clear insights to the major challenges and achievements in representation, negotiation and coordination at the helm of the EU Council.
The lecture series has been particularly successful in engaging the diplomatic contingent of incumbent Presidencies posted in The Hague, giving them the opportunity to share their experiences with the broad networks of the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and CLEER.
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 lecture series may be found on the CLEER website: www.cleer.eu.
The author is a Senior researcher in EU law
Academic programme coordinator of CLEER
T.M.C. Asser Instituut. She is founder contributing-writer of Diplomat Magazine. 
