Epistemic Responsibility and the Meaningful Participation of Women in the European Union’s Peace Mediation Practices: The Case of the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue

This article analyzes women’s participation in the European Union’s (EU) mediation efforts, using the case of peace negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia. The article combines the approaches of ‘meaningful participation,’ rooted in gender equality, alongside epistemic responsibility. Since 2011, the EU has mediated the peace talks, wielding significant influence over both parties, whıch have been candidates for EU membership. Given this influence, the study questions how and to what extent the EU has ensured women’s equal and meaningful involvement. Through process tracing and examination of EU and women’s organizations’ texts, findings reveal that civil society groups representing women were excluded from high-level negotiations. Despite women’s advocacy, the EU did not integrate women’s demands into official agreements. This case shows that, while the EU has significant potential and rhetoric on gender equality, it has not effectively applied a gender-sensitive approach. This gap between its discourse and actions brings a critical perspective on the EU’s epistemic responsibilities and its self-image as a normative actor in international mediation.