Eastern Europe
EU meets troubled Eastern Partners in run up to leaders’ summit
Despite proclamations of “strong commitment” to Eastern partners, the EU’s reluctance to fast-track integration for its most ambitious next-door neighbours is causing increasing frustration as top diplomats met in Brussels on Monday (15 November) to chart the policy’s future. EU...
The Brief, powered by The Martens Centre — Games politicians play
The current stand-off at the Belarus-Polish border will enter geopolitics textbooks. At least we hope so, because the alternative is that it might trigger an outright war, and then we will forget about textbooks.
EU accused of disregarding human rights when supporting law enforcement abroad
The EU has been accused of contributing to the development of ‘surveillance’ capacities in third countries without considering fundamental rights and data protection; according to a complaint filed with the European Ombudsman by a coalition of privacy NGOs.
The Brief, powered by APPLiA — Can conservatives bring back central eastern Europe?
The defeat of Andrej Babiš in Czechia and the resignation of Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz were hailed by many as a win for Europe’s progressives. What is missed in these arguments is that there are only conservatives in line to replace the populists.
EU to Poland: protect human lives, allow Frontex to Belarus border
The EU executive asked Warsaw on Friday to allow Frontex staff on the Polish-Belarusian border where four migrants died while trying to cross into Europe amid an increase in irregular immigration the bloc blames on Minsk for orchestrating.
Fifth migrant dies on Poland-Belarus border
An Iraqi migrant has died in Poland after being found near the border with Belarus, bringing to five the death toll this week on this eastern EU frontier.
Digital connectivity can fix the EU’s faltering Eastern Partnership
Relations between the EU and its eastern neighbours a going backwards. But a combination of renegotiated trade agreements and digital connectivity could reverse the tide, writes Dan Dalton.OpinionPromoted content
The stability question: EU’s foreign policy choices
On June 26th, a visit mandated by the EU High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr Joseph Borrell, took place in Georgia. Vlad Olteanu is the founder of I3pact EU. Alexander Schallenberg, Minister for European and International Affairs...
EU, US, NATO ‘enormously grateful’ for Georgia’s role in Kabul evacuations
As the dust settled following the dramatic evacuation at Kabul airport, the role of Georgia which provided critical assistance to the US and the Western partners is getting acknowledgement and praise.
Ukraine vows to bring Crimea back as international leaders affirm support in Kyiv
An international summit initiated by Ukraine reaffirmed on Monday (23 August) international commitments to de-occupy Crimea, seven and a half years after Russian troops occupied the strategic Black Sea peninsula.
Thirteen years on – 20% of Georgia is still occupied by Russia
It is crucial that the EU beefs-up its presence in South Caucasus more broadly, particularly on security and conflict related issues, write Amanda Paul and Iana Maisuradze in an analysis of the situation in Georgia 13 years after the 2008 war which depleted the country of 20% of its territory.
Ukrainian president orders review of protection measures for Belarusians after activist’s death
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday ordered a review of the risks to Belarusians in Ukraine following the death of an activist.
Ukraine vows to probe case of hanged Belarusian activist
Ukraine will do its best to investigate the death of Belarusian activist Vitaly Shishov who was found hanged in a Kyiv park, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday.
Newer EU members support Associated Trio as ‘champions’
Though vast majority of EU countries welcome deeper integration with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, their "Associated Trio" initiative finds more support within Eastern and Central Europe, while the Commission and Western member states remain hesitant to adopt the term.
The Brief – Too many cooks in the foreign policy kitchen?
In the Georgian Black Sea resort Batumi, taxi drivers, who usually talk about the likes of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, are currently talking about European Council President Charles Michel. In Georgia’s political crisis following the last parliamentary election in October...
Associated Trio to ramp up cooperation on Black Sea security
The confrontation between Russia and the West is coming to a head, experts say. In consequence, the Associated Trio – Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova – has declared its aims to step up cooperation to strengthen security in the Black Sea...
Georgia FM: We need a post-2020 Eastern Partnership agenda perspective
In an exclusive interview, the foreign minister of Georgia, David Zalkaliani, discussed this week's Associated Trio summit in Batumi, relations with Ukraine, the internal political process and the country’s EU ambition.
Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova seek acceptance of their EU membership perspective
A summit between Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi culminated on Monday (19 July) with the signature of a declaration calling for the EU to acknowledge the perspective of these countries to become full EU members one day. EURACTIV reports from Batumi.
Charles Michel heralds more EU involvement in the South Caucasus
European Council President Charles Michel will attend a regional summit in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi on Monday (19 July), after a weekend visit of Armenia and Azerbaijan, in what appears as an attempt to keep the region closer to the EU. EURACTIV reports from Batumi.
The Brief, powered by UNESDA – Three Seas riddle
Sofia hosts a summit of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) on Thursday and Friday (8-9 July) at a very inconvenient time – just before the snap general elections to be held in Bulgaria on Sunday. It’s not great when geopolitics interferes with politics.
Georgian parliament approves electoral reform, moving step away from political crisis
The Georgian parliament approved amendments to the electoral code late on Monday (28 June), a key provision in an EU-brokered political deal meant to resolve the institutional crisis in the South Caucasian country with strong European aspirations.
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.Supporter
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