News & Highlights

Eurozone crisis is an opportunity
Participants from across the EU discussed how the EU’s economy might be governed in light of the credit crunch ...

The EU's External Action Service
Creation of the new External Action Service, a priority for the EU under the Lisbon Treaty, is examined at Wilton Park.

Celebrating the 25th British German Forum
This year’s British German Forum, taking place between 12-15 July, will be the 25th.

Building on the Wilton Park public diplomacy series, this dynamic conference brought together practitioners alongside academics and strategic communications experts to consider the practical application of public diplomacy in a fast moving world.
The importance of soft power and future strategies for public diplomacy were highlighted by Jeremy Browne MP, Minister of State, and Judith McHale, Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, in their opening remarks. Other topics under discussion included the role of corporate and faith groups; digital media; cultural relations and partnerships; and engagement through sport.

Moving beyond oil – energy alternatives
From bankers to Bianca Jagger, from Bangladesh to Britain, alternative energy is back on the agenda ….more

The British-German Forum Alumni Newsletter
A visiting Intern, Ursula Stricker-Ellsiepen (Conference Manager at The Konstanz Science Forum, South Germany) describes her time at Wilton Park

Latin America: Tackling the Cocaine Trade
Wilton Park’s conference on Tackling the Cocaine Trade went ahead despite the travel disruption caused by the ash from the Icelandic volcano. The group of 25 people who managed to participate were joined “virtually” by eight speakers from Colombia, Peru, USA, UN (Vienna) and Warsaw.

Making Tax Interesting - Africa Conference
At a time when public spending and post-crisis economic plans focus attention, the conference conducted with the North-South Institute (Canada) presented original research of Sub-Saharan African economies. (more)

Winning ‘hearts and minds’ in Afghanistan
Discussion at Wilton Park explored critical issues surrounding the effectiveness of development in aid promoting security and stability in Afghanistan. The conference discussion and report are contributing to high-level policy discussions in various ISAF capitals as well as influencing future thinking on concept development and doctrine for counter-insurgency and stabilisation operations.

Daily Blog and Information from Wilton Park session at UN-Habitat's World Urban Forum
Wilton Park Networking Event: Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 2010

Indonesia:what role as a contemporary global actor?
Having conducted successful parliamentary and presidential elections in 2009, and withstood the global economic crisis with continued, if slowed, growth, does Indonesia have the potential to play an increasingly influential role in regional and international fora?

The High North : Challenges and Opportunities

Private military and security companies (PMSCs): Working towards an international code of conduct
Update: comment is invited on the draft global Code of Conduct for Private Security companies and Private Military companies, following the Wilton Park conference at which agreement was reached to prepare an international code of conduct to regulate the industry in all situations.

The UK's Ministry of Justice convened a group of international constitutional experts
The UK’s Ministry of Justice convened a group of international constitutional experts at Wilton Park from 10-13 February to discuss issues of accountability under democratic constitutions. Discussions between officials, lawyers, judges, parliamentarians, constitutional experts and interested NGOs, from the UK, South Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Spain, Germany and Ireland provided rich food for thought for the Government in its development of UK policy across the sweep of tricky issues discussed, identifying some powerful ideas on the options and their implications for greater constitutional accountability in the UK.

What are the priority issues for the review of the UN’s Human Rights Council?
Informal discussions at Wilton Park aimed to prepare for the intergovernmental working group on the review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council scheduled to meet later in 2010.

How to balance Food security with Sustainability of Agricultural Production

Africa 2010: The Key Challenges
A major conference on Africa, reviewing progress since the Commission for Africa Report, presented at the Gleneagles G8 meeting (2005) and towards the Millennium Development Goals, with many 2015 targets, took place at Wilton Park. A significant study on progress in Africa is available as a background document.

Private military and security companies (PMSCs): Working towards an international code of conduct
Major PMSCs agree at Wilton Park conference to develop an international code of conduct to regulate their industry in all situations.

Haiti earthquake - co-ordinating military and civilian international responses

Working with Russia: next steps in economic and political dialogue
The conference set out to explore the cultural, social and economic policies that Russia is exploring for its future development with particular emphasis on involving younger Russians in the debate