GRIP’s research work focuses mainly on the following domains:P>

• Conflict prevention, management and resolution. Causes and consequences of conflicts; evaluation of risks and threats; evaluation of the use of force; development of civil instruments (mediation and negotiations); the role of civil society; peacekeeping operations; the role of international institutions (UN, EU, OSCE, African Union, etc.). The research carried out by GRIP covers the Balkans and sub-Saharan Africa (the Great Lakes region and West Africa).
  
  
• Proliferation of small arms and control of the arms trade. International, regional and national initiatives to limit the availability of small arms and improve the control of arms transfers (codes of conduct, model-conventions and legislation); the marking and traceability of small arms; arms sales to African countries and ownership of small arms by civilians).
  
  
• European Union and international security. European Union policy and role (development of the CFSP and the ESDP); relations with the UN, OSCE and NATO; and the drawing up of a European security and defence.
  
  
• Defence economy. Developments in arms production and defence budgets; the restructuring of defence industries; technological developments, arms programmes; globalisation, the defence economy and defence institutions.

GRIP research is carried out under contracts for and/or agreements with Belgian, European and international public institutions as well as private bodies. In recent years, GRIP has worked for the following institutions and organisations:

- The European Commission;
- The European Parliament;
- The Western European Union’s Institute for Security Studies (Paris);
- The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation;
- The Belgian Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Development Cooperation and Scientific Policy;
- The Walloon Government;
- The King Baudouin Foundation (Brussels);
- SIPRI (Stockholm);
- UNIDIR (Geneva);
- The International Labour Organisation (Geneva);
- ‘Institut d’études européennes’ (ULB, Brussels);
- The Small Arms Survey (Geneva).

Since its creation, GRIP has been praised for its publications, essential for the distribution of its syntheses of reflection. Over time, publications have changed in content, presentation and periodicity. Three series of publications are currently available:

• Les Livres du GRIP (GRIP Books): These books tackle international geo-strategy and international security issues (approximately 5 titles a year), widely distributed in bookshops.
  
  
• Les Rapports du GRIP (GRIP Reports): This series of occasional reports assesses research, most of which has been carried out by GRIP’s research team.
  
  
• Les Nouvelles du GRIP (GRIP News): An eight-page quarterly newsletter (review of current events, an outline of GRIP’s activities, etc.).

GRIP’s publications have on three occasions won the ‘Prix du meilleur ouvrage de vulgarisation’ (prize for the best public information publication), awarded by the Ministry of the French Community (Belgium).

Our contribution focuses on broad distribution of our publications and studies, along with:

- The writing of articles (for newspapers, specialist reviews, yearbooks, etc.);
- Talks on radio and television;
- Lectures, speeches, seminars and conferences;
- Our website: www.grip.org