EU Neighbourhood

For many years, Western players have been going all out to placate the populistic-nationalist players and their destructive ideologies: yet their questionable methods of appeasement and undemocratic interventions have ended up bolstering the very powers that have come to pose a threat to peace. The way for new excesses of violence has been paved. By supporting firebrands, Russia has been able to expand its influence further – this is the Kremlin’s second front for the destabilisation of Europe.

Energy policy plays a central role following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ahead of the EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting on Thursday 23 June 2022, Simon Ilse spoke to Dirk Buschle, Deputy Director of the Vienna-based international organisation Energy Community, about the energy and geopolitical implications of EU enlargement.

Georgia and the EU are standing at a historic crossroads. Which factors affect their abilities to bring the membership bid on track, and what should the EU’s response look like?

This former Soviet republic, located between Ukraine and Romania, is now the target destination of many refugees from southern Ukraine. The largely rural Republic of Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Julian Gröger, coordinator of cultural and environmental projects in the capital of Chişinău, reports on the effects of the war in Ukraine on this country of 2.5 million inhabitants.

We declare our full solidarity with Ukraine. We stand by the side of our Ukrainian partners and colleagues, and at the same time also by the side of our partners in Russian civil society who are under harsh state repression.

Ukraine is facing a challenge that could threaten its very existence. It is relying on negotiations, sanctions and its army and needs solidarity and assistance from all European democracies. 

At the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit on 15 December 2021, German Chancellor Scholz met with high-ranking representatives of the EU and its Member States and the EaP countries. How can the Traffic Light coalition contribute to a more effective Eastern Partnership?

More than 50 people were injured in attacks on journalists and civil society in Tbilisi in early July 2021 in connection with Pride Week. The German Federal Government and the EU should strongly urge their Georgian partners to address the violence through prompt and comprehensive legal and political action.