Carl Bildt, 50th Munich Security Conference 2014 (Photo Marc Müller)

(From the USIP Blog)- The founding members that have committed to funding the initiative for the first three years of operation include several states with a reputation in mediation and peacebuilding, such as Sweden, Finland and Belgium, and two of the self-styled "Visegrad Group" of countries, Hungary and Poland. The founders also include non-EU member states, including Switzerland. With the legal framework in place, the Institute is gearing up for its public launch, scheduled for May 2014.

The charter signing caps four years of exploration of the concept and efforts to build support. Even though foreign affairs is among the areas in which European Union countries are integrating more slowly, meaningful steps have been taken toward a more visible, coherent, and effective foreign policy. While the overall report card is mixed, High Representative Catherine Ashton, who heads the European External Action Service, played a significant role in EU talks with Iran, and last year's accession of Croatia into the EU offers hope for sustainable peace across the Balkans.

The EIP will resemble USIP in its quasi-governmental status, ensuring both credibility and autonomy, and its founding mission to prevent and resolve violent conflict, while building capacity in areas at risk. The modest totals for the EIP's budget and staff similarly mirror the size of USIP upon its creation in 1984.

The EIP initiative also differs from USIP in several regards.

Read more from the USIP Blog The Olive Branch