This article appraises effectiveness in operational conflict prevention. By focusing on the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in Kosovo, it assesses the most extensive civilian Common Security and Defence Policy mission so far. Contrary to prevailing assessments, it posits that EULEX, despite its challenges and deficiencies, presents positive contributions to operational conflict prevention, and peacebuilding in general. This is uncovered through structured focused analysis according to effectiveness criteria and success indicators that allow for identification of and distinction between different types and levels of effectiveness, considering both means applied and ends achieved. In so doing, the article contributes to the general literature on operational conflict prevention and on the specific case of Kosovo. The empirical analysis is based on fieldwork and semi-structured interviews with EU personnel, governmental and non-governmental actors in Kosovo, and independent observers.

The global distribution of power is changing. Western dominance is declining, and new actors are entering the international stage. In response to the changing global context the European Union (EU) is seeking to further develop strategic partnerships to promote its interests and influence beyond Europe's borders. In 2007, the EU established a strategic partnership with Brazil. The purpose of this initiative was to strengthen the Union's ties with the country, which is becoming an increasingly important regional and international player. This article investigates the EU's relationship with Brazil since the end of the Cold War. In particular, it focuses on the nascent strategic partnership and its three priority areas for cooperation: enhancing bilateral relations, environmental sustainability and energy security. The article concludes that the strategic partnership lacks clearly defined purpose, direction and content. As a result, the Union's Brazil-related activities have been ad hoc rather than strategic so far. However, there may be room for joint leadership in mutual priority areas, if the EU and Brazil engage in a truly strategic partnership in the future.

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Observers have classified the European Union (EU) as reluctant in its implementation of the "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P) (Task Force on the EU Prevention of Mass Atrocities, 2013). This contribution revisits that argument by employing a more nuanced interpretation of norm implementation than the binary conceptualisation typically applied. By appraising EU reactions to the 2011 Libyan crisis, we investigate whether a "European practice of mass atrocity prevention" is emerging and if so how this relates-or not-to R2P. We do this by investigating EU practices seeking to protect people from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity-paying particular attention to the three pillars and four policy areas included in the R2P framework (ICISS, 2001). Our review of EU responses to Libya seeks to unveil whether and if so how EU practice related to mass atrocity prevention in that country rejected, adopted or indeed adapted R2P. The enquiry appraises both how R2P mattered to the EU response and how the Libya crisis affected the Union's approach to mass atrocity prevention and within it R2P. In this way, the study asks how norms can change practice, but also how practice can change norms. As such, our focus is on the inter-relationship between principles and practices of protection.

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