"Peace in our time – or more Euro-squabbling?",Chris Patten in The Guardian

25 July 2008 The Guardian Bickering over the Lisbon treaty must not delay the important conflict resolution work the EU carries out overseas Ignore for a moment the European Union's latest difficulties following the Irish referendum, and instead focus on places that have real crises, and where the EU is making a real difference in resolving them. Too often overlooked among the Euro-debates over the Lisbon treaty has been any sense of what changes proposed by the treaty would actually mean for the most important work the EU is doing outside its own borders. The EU has had 21 missions in conflict zones and fragile post-conflict countries, bringing vital military support and civilian expertise to a range of troubled areas in efforts to stabilize and rebuild fractured societies. Examining just a few of the nine past missions and... [read full story]