Meeting of civil coordinators in Berlin
Jörg Hinrichs-Lahmann (EUCAP Somalia), Fynn-Morten Heckert (EULEX Kosovo/OMiK), Jens Veer (EUMA Armenien), Bettina Ruigies (OSZE Sekretariat), Simon Meisenberg (KSC/SPO), Hannelore Valier (EUAM Ukraine), Paula Szy (MAPP).
The Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF) recently invited a group of dedicated civilian coordinators to an intensive exchange. These experts are active in international peace missions such as EULEX in Kosovo or Ukraine and play a central role as contact persons for all matters relating to mission work on the ground—whether it be questions of security, cooperation, or difficult contractual issues. They take on this role in addition to their full-time positions and are therefore an indispensable support for mission staff on the ground.
Especially in difficult areas of operation, their role as trusted advisors and information brokers is invaluable – a living example of personnel care in practice. Their work is enormously important for the safety and prospects of their colleagues on the ground and is a decisive factor in the success of the missions.
The meeting at the ZIF was all about knowledge exchange and networking. In a constructive atmosphere, the coordinators were able to share their experiences and create valuable synergies that will further strengthen exchange and cooperation, particularly on security-related issues.