Crisis prevention, conflict resolution and peace building – these are foreign-policy goals to which Germany is committed. A new policy paper lays out how the German government intends to achieve these goals. The Cabinet has adopted the guidelines "Preventing crises, transforming conflicts, building peace".
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For the first time the German government has presented a broad vision for its peace-policy engagement. The guidelines supplement the 2016 security policy white paper and the development policy report of the German government. They demonstrate what instruments are to be used in Germany’s foreign policy, security policy and development policy to shape peace in the world.
Civilian measures and crisis prevention always take precedence. The German government undertakes in the guidelines to further develop the toolbox available to address crises at a political level.
All instruments, whether they are civilian projects, police training, or in extreme cases the deployment of the Bundeswehr, serve one political strategy. The use of military force within the bounds of what is permitted by international law remains the last resort for German politics.
In order to resolve crises and conflicts at political level, the German government will further develop its peace mediation capacities. This includes providing financial and conceptual support for mediation.
The German government will also step up its arms control and disarmament measures, including landmine and ordinance clearance, and small arms control.
With the guidelines, the German government also affirms the inter-ministerial significance of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The guidelines modify the crisis prevention structures and procedures used by the German government. The Advisory Board for Civilian Crisis Prevention and Peace Building is the key interface to non-governmental partners and is to be upgraded and strengthened.
This advisory body, which brings together experts from the German Bundestag, civil society and the scientific and research community will in future address relevant initiatives of the German government at an early stage. It will also receive funding that will enable it to produce its own reports and hold special events.
Parallel to the elaboration of the guidelines, the German government launched a debate on international policy. Under the banner "PeaceLab2016 – A Fresh Look at Crisis Prevention!" a total of 1,800 participants are making the most of 27 events to discuss how conflicts can be prevented before they erupt. More than 100 authors have contributed to the PeaceLab blog, including six federal ministers, members of the German Bundestag from every parliamentary group, specialist organisations, and representatives of the scientific and research community, and of civil society.