The purpose of the workshop was to explore the nature of different crisis types which require different forms of European cooperation and to identify the capacities required to cooperatively address the various types of crisis. The central document for discussion was a book manuscript prepared by Arjen Boin, Magnus Ekengren and Mark Rhinard (forthcoming 2010).  

In this article Arjen Boin & Mark Rhinard examines the EU relief efforts to Haiti.

If critics want a truly fast, well co-ordinated, EU-led response, they should consider delegating more powers to supranational institutions. It remains unclear if the EU has sufficient capacity to deal with crises and disasters within the Union. How will the EU assist member states when a transboundary crisis paralyses critical infrastructures? What competencies does the Commission possess, or need, to play a meaningful role? More important than institutional concerns is political will: who will fight to ensure that the EU’s disaster-management responsibilities inside the EU match its capacities outside?

Access the article here: European Voice

Michael Merker, Head of Unit in the European Commission’s DG for External Relations, discussed the EU efforts to counter terrorist extremism abroad. The seminar that was held at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs included both practitioners and researchers.

The Swedish Institute of International Affairs, in cooperation with the European Policy Centre and Center for Asymmetric Threat Studies hosted this international conference on the future of European Union counterterrorism cooperation. The conference invited high-level policymakers and researchers to examine the EU’s successes and failures in countering terrorism at home and abroad, and to make suggestions for the future direction of European cooperation on counterterrorism with a view towards building on successes and improving weaknesses. 

Access the conference proceedings here: Conference proceedings