Regional organizations and ethnic conflict prevention: The EU and Kosovo conflict

The prevention, management, and resolution of ethnic conflicts comprises an important challenge to the regional peace and stability. This case study explores the role of the EU, as a regional organization, in ethnic conflict prevention in different stages of the Kosovo conflict. It aims to understand the strategies, policies, and mechanisms used by the EU in its engagement throughout different conflict stages. In addition, it offers an evaluation of the capabilities, achievements and failures of the EU in dealing with this type of conflict. The study highlights the efforts of the EU in shifting its strategies to become a leading actor in handling this conflict. The findings of the research reveal progress in the EU’s approach to conflict prevention but highlight the lack of the consensus among member states as an obstacle to EU’s success in conflict prevention.