In 2015 we celebrated a historic triad: 70 years since the end of the Second World War and the founding of the UN, 40 years since the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act and 25 years since the adoption of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (the Paris Charter). Leading Europe from the end of a devastating war to an era of unprecedented cooperation, these three events have retained their influence in the architecture of European peace and security to the present day. Against this background, the most severe crisis since the end of the Cold War – as perceived by the majority of actors – was triggered by the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine. Europe, which was founded on the principles of territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of conflicts and non-interference, once again faces the danger of new dividing lines, while the existing principles of its security order are under pressure.

In memory of these major historic events and in reaction to the current crisis, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung held an Open Space Conference on 4 and 5 May 2015 on the future of the European Peace and Security Order under Threat. The conference brought together 34 young experts in the fi elds of peace, security and conflict research, from 30 European and Central Asian countries – from Spain to Kyrgyzstan – to exchange views and ideas on a progressive European policy in a time of crisis. These are the results.