The research should provide insight into why some regions and small states in Europe pursue peace-oriented foreign policies, and how they translate this peace orientation into concrete policies and concrete diplomatic instruments. To answer these questions, the Flemish Peace Institute is funding a study of a number of European regions and states pursuing peace-oriented foreign policies. In this part, the case of Flanders is kept out of the analysis. The main objective of this first part of the project is to generate policy-relevant insights, in particular on the room for manoeuvre regions and states have at their disposal to conduct a meaningful peace-oriented foreign policy.