Eastern Europe
Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine: A higher EU ambition
The foreign ministers of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine are together in Brussels on Thursday (24 June) for their first joint visit to the EU since the three countries formalised the format of ‘Associated Trio’ last May. This exclusive opinion by David Zalkaliani, Aureliu Ciocoim and Dmytro Kuleba highlights their countries’ higher EU ambition.
Tsikhanouskaya: EU must base Belarus policy ‘on values, not pictures’
The EU must apply consistent pressure on the repressive Belarusian regime until it responds to calls for dialogue, exiled democratic opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Georgian mediation obtains the release of 15 Armenian POWs by Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan on Saturday (12 June) released to Armenia 15 prisoners of war captured last year during hostilities over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, under a deal mediated by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and saluted by the US and the EU.
What can Lithuania and Poland do to protect Belarusian political refugees?
As many Belarusians flee their country and seek refuge in neighbouring countries, what can Lithuania and Poland do to protect Belarusians, write Monika Bičkauskaitė and Veranika Laputska.
Georgia opposition ends parliamentary boycott
Georgia's main opposition party on Sunday (30 May) announced the end of a months-long parliamentary boycott that has plunged the Caucasus nation into a spiralling political crisis, following disputed elections last year.
Will the flight ban trap Belarusian dissidents in the hands of Lukashenko?
The EU has effectively banned air connections with Belarus in the wake of a forced diversion of a Vilnius-bound flight from Athens which the Baltic states have labelled a "hijacking", however critics of the move fear the new measures could hurt dissidents fleeing regime repression.
EU hesitant over potential ‘Putin connection’ in Belarus plane ‘hijacking’
Despite the speculations about a Russian involvement in the forced landing of the Ryanair airliner in Minsk, given the importance of Russia, EU leaders who met in Brussels for a two-day summit decided to decouple the issues and concentrate on...
Kakha Kuchava: In Georgia we are changing the political culture
In a wide-ranging interview, Kakha Kuchava, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, told about the latest developments since the mediation by Council President Charles Michel, the role of Russia and the new format of ‘Associated Trio’ between Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine formalise their higher EU ambition
The three former Soviet republics hoping to join the EU have formalised their cooperation towards a more ambitious European integration on Monday (17 May) during a meeting of their foreign ministers in Kyiv.
Georgia opposition leader walks free after EU posts bail
Georgia on Monday (10 May) released jailed opposition leader Nika Melia on bail posted by the European Union, in a move expected to defuse a political crisis in the Caucasus country.
Michel’s mediation in Georgia revealed
European Council President Charles Michel "took risks" during his recent visit to Georgia, and some in Brussels thought his actions were "mad", according to an EU official familiar with the latest diplomatic action meant to reassert the EU's 'soft power'.
Tsikhanouskaya: Repressions are escalating, EU should be ‘braver’ in its sanction policy
Actions of the international community, including European sanctions against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, have to be ‘faster and braver‘ to support Belarusian civil society in its struggle, Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told EURACTIV. “The protest mood hasn’t been...
Georgia ruling party, opposition sign EU-led pact to end crisis
Georgia's ruling party and the opposition on Monday (19 April) signed an EU-mediated agreement to end a months-long political crisis that raised concerns in the West over the Caucasus country's backsliding on democracy.
Ukraine mobilises NATO’s diplomatic and political means over Russia troops build-up
After Kyiv and Moscow traded blame over the worsening situation in the eastern Donbas region, Ukraine was able to mobilise its Western allies at political level, with several high-level meetings planned this week.
The EU should get serious about Georgia’s political crisis
The lack of visionaries in Georgian politics increases the European Union’s responsibility to make sure that the country gets out of its current crisis, write Vakshuti Menabde and Teona Lavrelashvili. By Vakhushti Menabde is director of Program of Support for...
EU-mediated Georgia crisis talks fail on second try
The second round of European Union-mediated talks between Georgia's ruling party and the opposition failed Wednesday (31 March) to resolve a political impasse sparked by elections last year, an EU mediator said.
Belarus takes ethnic Poles ‘hostage’, Polish PM says
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called on Belarusian authorities to stop harassing Poles living in the country after a minority activist was sentenced to 15 days in jail earlier this week. The issue will be raised at today's EU summit, the Polish PM said.
European Parliament supports the people of Belarus in their quest for democracy
The quest for democracy and freedom is in the hands of the people of Belarus. They should know that they are not alone, writes David McAllister.
EU envoy heads back to Georgia to continue mediation
European Council President Charles Michel’s personal envoy to Georgia will head back to Tbilisi this week in an effort to find a solution to the ongoing political crisis that EU officials say may jeopardise the South Caucasian country’s European aspirations....
EU mediator returns from Georgia empty-handed
After a week of negotiations, the special envoy of European Council President Charles Michel returns to Brussels empty-handed, after unsuccessful attempts to find solutions for the Georgian political stalemate.
EU mediation yet to reach solution in Georgia as prime minister visits Brussels
EU-mediated negotiations between the Georgian ruling party and the opposition are yet to bear fruit, the South Caucasian country's prime ministerial visit to Brussels revealed on Tuesday (16 March).
EU warms to more integration with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
The idea of offering more tailor-made integration to the three Eastern associated partner countries, -- Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, -- is gaining momentum on the Commission's agenda, according to an EU official.
EU to assess progress in Georgia mediation talks on 15 March
After his unexpected visit to Tbilisi to mediate the deepening political crisis in Georgia, European Council President Charles Michel said progress in talks between the ruling party and the opposition will be assessed in two weeks.
Michel seeks to mediate Georgian political crisis
In an unusual move, European Council President Charles Michel invited Georgia's ruling and opposition parties for talks under his mediation over dinner during his visit to Tbilisi on Monday (1 March).OpinionPromoted content
