Less Power, More Conviction – Respect and Kindness in Mediation. Member Spotlight: Miro Prek
Miro Prek’s career is a testament to the intersection of law, education and sustainability. Originally from Slovenia, Miro has lived and worked across Europe, assuming a number of different expert legal roles over time. Miro is currently based in Slovenia, but most of his work as an international legal expert is carried out in Brussels and occasionally Luxembourg. He received both his Master of Laws (LLM, EU Law) and his Ph.D. in law at the University of Luxembourg. In addition to his academic foundation being in law, his professional journey has been marked by a continuous expansion into related fields, including mediation, arbitration, and coaching. Miro primarily concentrates his legal work on energy law at the moment, however, he is eager to integrate more direct community action into his work.
Miro’s legal career began in public administration, where he played a key role in negotiating Slovenia’s accession to the European Union. After his fulfilling time in public administration, he shifted to consulting—an opportunity that offered valuable insight to working in a post-war environment. Miro’s international career continued onward, taking shape as peacebuilding and institution-building efforts in after-war Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and various new EU member states.
rom the European Court of Justice to Mediation
After years in public service, Miro transitioned to the Court of Justice of the European Union and ultimately became a judge, where he served two terms. This experience honed his ability to interpret and apply complex legal frameworks at the highest levels of European governance.
Miro found himself increasingly drawn to mediation as a tool for resolving disputes outside of traditional legal channels. His work now centers on dispute resolution, particularly in EU energy law, where he serves as Chair of the Board of Appeal for the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. His legal knowledge, coupled with his passion for mediation, enables him to address conflicts with a nuanced, solution-oriented approach that prioritizes genuine, direct impact.
“I initially didn’t feel as though my work was useful… Nearing the end of my professional career, I thought I’d try to share more, more spontaneously, with an immediate effect on those who need it most.”
The Evolving Landscape of Mediation
Miro acknowledges that mediation is gaining recognition globally but sees the need for further development and awareness. He emphasizes that many people remain unaware of mediation as a viable alternative to litigation, despite its affordability and efficiency. His vision is to make mediation more accessible and widely practiced across different levels of governance, business, and interpersonal disputes.
One of the key challenges in mediation, according to Miro, is overcoming entrenched legalistic mindsets that favor lengthy court proceedings over dialogue-driven solutions. He advocates for a shift in perspective—one that sees mediation not as a last resort but as a primary tool for conflict resolution.
A Passion for Human Interaction and Meaningful Impact
What excites Miro most about mediation is its direct, human-centered approach. For him, “the most valuable thing for me right now at this point in my career, or life, is human interaction.” Establishing strong connections with others is a priority for Miro, and he credits his multilingual skills for allowing him to bypass certain social, cultural or political barriers with linguistic relationships.
Unlike legal adjudication, where decisions are imposed, mediation empowers individuals themselves to find solutions that work best for them and to feel empowered by their agency. “In traditional legal roles, you apply power to make decisions. But in mediation, you help people find their own solutions. The satisfaction comes from seeing immediate, tangible results,” he reflects.
His work now extends beyond legal frameworks into broader societal issues, including energy law, governance transparency, and mediation’s role in global sustainability efforts. In pivoting his interests towards devising “conflict detection” tools, Miro aims to focus on promoting early identification signals of potential conflicts within a situation and developing non-intrusive means of settling disputes. He is particularly interested in using mediation to address greenwashing and misinformation in corporate and political spheres, sharing how “the distribution of false information by notable companies and protected representatives is disrespectful to us as citizens.” Miro emphasizes the need for alternative approaches to conflict resolution that are more inclusive than strictly legal action. “When an issue like greenwashing, for example, arises, we of course need not go to courts to resolve it. What we need, therefore, is a lighter mechanism to deal with it, and I think mediation is one of them.” His suggestion underlines the vitality of providing the opposite of what people experience within the courts, where processes take significant amounts of time and have enormously high costs. To him, this is “prohibitive to many, many people.” Therefore, Miro seeks to further develop proactive, accessible and realistic solutions to issues that impact individuals who currently feel as though their grievances cannot be appropriately addressed.
Looking Forward: Expanding the Reach of Mediation
As mediation continues to gain traction, Miro sees a need for greater specialization and professionalization in the field. He envisions a future where mediation is not just an alternative, but a norm in conflict resolution. His advice to aspiring mediators? Focus on facilitating rather than dictating solutions. “A mediator’s role is not to solve the problem for someone, but to guide them toward finding their own resolution. People are more likely to embrace solutions they reach themselves.” Respecting others’ perspectives and facilitating solutions without patronizing others is foundational to Miro’s approach to mediation, emphasizing how important it is to leave people the choice to walk away from situations if they wish. “It should be clear that it’s them who are making the most important, personal decisions, not you.” Both respect and kindness are integral values in Miro’s work. For him, kindness is not a “naive concept,” but rather something that permeates every aspect of our lives. “Kindness pays off,” he responds when asked what message he would like to share through this article.
Miro’s journey—from public administration and high-level legal roles to hands-on mediation—illustrates the power of adaptive expertise. His commitment to fostering understanding, justice, and constructive dialogue remains at the core of his professional mission, making him a vital voice in the evolving field of mediation.
Article by Sarah Stenovec, MBBI Writer