EU Eastern Enlargement: Preparing for Current and Future Threats Through Inclusive Crisis Management and Resilient Critical Infrastructure
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the full-scale war that resulted, which will continue well into 2023, have led to a fundamental breakthrough in the readiness of the European Union to move the geographical parameters…
Turkey’s Regional Policy and the Prospects of Armenia-Turkey Normalization
On October 6, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Prague on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit. This was the first meeting between Armenian and Turkish leaders since the failure…
The parameters of Western aid to Ukraine and Moldova: preparation for the “Russian winter”
Russian pressure remains at high levels, militarily against Ukraine and through energy leverage in relation to Moldova. In both cases, Russia is counting on the aggravation of the socio-economic and humanitarian effects produced by the winter,…
The Sochi Trilateral Summit: Implications for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process
On October 31, 2022, Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian leaders met in Sochi. The last time Pashinyan, Aliyev and Putin met was on November 26, 2021 to discuss the realization of the November 10, 2020, and January 11, 2021, trilateral statements.…
Opinion: Balancing the mediators - Armenia and Azerbaijan should avoid offending Russia
Russia has become increasingly critical of western involvement in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict settlement process, writes Benyamin Poghosyan in this op-ed for commonspace.eu.
Russian attacks on critical infrastructure: risks for Ukraine's resilience and implications for the EU
The new tactic of Russian aggression against Ukraine is to damage vital infrastructure, with an emphasis on the energy sector. Without access to uninterrupted power sources, Ukraine's resilience is severely challenged. However, if the population…
Rebuilding Ukraine: how the EU should support Ukraine’s reconstruction and recover
Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine has disastrous consequences for the country. Although an end to the war is currently not in sight, it is already clear that a huge international effort will be required to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.…
Armenia and Karabakh should be ready for new escalations by Azerbaijan
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and European Council President Charles Michel met for…
The EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia: Enlargement from the Western Balkans to the Eastern Partnership
The policy paper has several underlying conclusions. Firstly, the main triggers for the trio’s EU membership applications are the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the radical revision of the EU’s security calculations linked to Eastern Europe, and…
The de-oligarchization of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia: the EU condition for advancing the European perspective,
The European institutions demand that Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia remove oligarchic influence from national decision-making processes. This approach is part of the political conditions on the fulfillment of which the transformation of the European…
EU sanctions and Russia's energy weapon - solidarity versus fragmentation
The European Union and Russia have entered into an endurance race in terms of maintaining sanctions and taking advantage of energy asymmetries, respectively. Through sanctions, used as an economic weapon, European actors want to weaken Russia's economy,…
Opinion: Realism should be the basis for the Armenia-Turkey normalisation process
"There should be realistic expectations of what can result from ongoing discussions on the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey", writes Benyamin Poghosyan in this op-ed for commonspace.eu. "Given…
Moldova and the candidacy for the EU: between the loss of legitimacy and the need for a national dialogue
Due to the EU candidate status, granted in Brussels in June, Moldova has the opportunity to move more easily and quickly on the path of reforms. They are essential for the functioning of the country, but also indispensable for making EU accession…
The War in Ukraine and the Future of the World Order
Since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022, discussions have been underway about the impact of the war on the evolving global order. The transformation of the world order is a very complicated and multi-layered process, and history tells…
EU skeptics say, we respond: counter-arguments to the key caveats regarding Ukraine’s EU candidacy
On June 23-24, the European Council will decide whether to grant Ukraine the EU candidate status. There are a number of caveats in European capitals concerning this step. The New Europe Center prepared counter-arguments to the key caveats of Europeans…
Opinion: Peacekeeping in Karabakh can learn from the UNOMIG experience
As Armenia and Azerbaijan come closer to launching bilateral negotiations over the normalisation of relations, many issues wait for a solution. Currently, the hottest debates are underway regarding…
Pashinyan and Aliyev meet in Brussels again: What next
On May 22, 2022, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Aliyev met in Brussels. The meeting was facilitated by the President of the European Council Charles Michel. For many observers, the May 22 trilateral meeting created…
EU Recovery Plan for Ukraine: Membership Perspective Is Essential for the Efficiency
At this moment, an unprecedented victory of democracy is being brought by Ukrainian defenders to the EU and its Eastern neighbourhood. The EU has its Europe moment to help Ukraine, a brave and heroic neighbour, to achieve a victory against tyranny,…
Armenia faces a critical choice in Nagorno Karabakh
April 2022 was marked by significant developments around the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. When Russia launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24, it seemed that all other post-Soviet conflicts would enter…
Opinion: Quo Vadis Nagorno-Karabakh?
Nikol Pashinyan delivered a significant speech to the Armenian parliament last week on the eve of the launch of negotiations on an Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty. In this op-ed, Benyamin Poghosyan says that his comments on the future of Nagorno-Karabakh…
The April 6 meeting of Pashinyan and Aliyev in Brussels: What next
On April 6, 2022, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a meeting in Brussels mediated by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. It was the second meeting in Brussels mediated by the…
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Assessment of the Humanitarian, Economic and Financial Impact in the Short and Medium Term
WII Policy Note/Policy Report No. 59, March 2022The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a humanitarian, economic, financial and political crisis that will reverberate…
Sanctions against Russia to save Ukraine and the Chinese factor
Sanctions against Russia, albeit belated, are Ukraine's vital tool in fighting the Russian invasion after receiving foreign military aid. The first Western sanctions with a significant economic impact were triggered immediately after Russia's recognition…
Ambivalent Effects of Trade Liberalisation with the EU: Insights from Moldova and Georgia
Through its new Eastern Partnership (EaP) beyond 2020 the EU aims to ‘deliver for all’. In economic terms, this objective translates into the promotion of inclusive economies that create opportunities and ensure prosperity for all citizens in the partner…
The role of EU assistance in Moldova's detachment from Russia
Moldova's foreign policy is moving the country, at least from a diplomatic perspective, in the direction of the European Union (EU), but practical changes in domestic policy are slower. Even if rapprochement with the EU is desired at a rapid…
The Impact of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on the EU - Ukraine trade. Policy paper summary
This is a summary of the policy paper representing the results of the assessment of economic consequences from the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) for EU – Ukraine trade. This analysis is based on the draft regulation on CBAM as published…
Export of “green” hydrogen from Ukraine to the EU: current capacity and future potential
According to the European Green Deal, hydrogen power must become the main component of the EU’s integrated power system during 2025-2030, and the capacity of electrolysis plants must…
Opinion: The implosion of Kazakhstan was unexpected, and it has implications for the whole post-Soviet space
"We need time to understand better what happened in Kazakhstan, and why", writes Benyamin Poghosyan in this op-ed. Whilst sending CSTO troops to Kazakhstan was clearly President Putin's decision to support President Tokayev in the internal…
Top 5 advances and challenges in the EaP in 2021: pro-EU resilience and new sources of regional instability
During 2021, developments within the Eastern Partnership (EaP) have shown that democratic prospects are still something available in the region. The reformist political forces continued to enjoy the confidence of the people to the extent necessary…
Republic of Moldova in 2021: a retrospective of political change
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung together with Foreign Policy Association
Moldova's foreign policy - between "interconnection" with Romania and "balancing" with Russia
Moldovan diplomacy is dynamic and cohesive in the face of various foreign policy priorities. In addition to accelerating the dimension of European integration, coordinating and synchronizing the agendas of President Maia Sandu and the Action and Solidarity…
November 26 trilateral meeting in Sochi: What next?
The Russian resort town of Sochi was turned into the spotlight of South Caucasus geopolitics on November 26 as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the much-anticipated…
Opinion: In the South Caucasus, one year after a costly war, a glimmer of hope for peace
In this joint op-ed, Dr Benyamin Poghosyan and Dr Anar Valiyev discuss how Armenia and Azerbaijan have coped with the changed realities of the last year following the end of the 44-day Karabakh War and the signing of the…
Implementation of Association Agreements in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine: a comparative overview 2021
In 2014, the European Union concluded Association Agreements with the three countries – Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, – to promote political association and economic integration, in line with the main goal of the Eastern Partnership as set forth by the…
Opinion: Georgia’s mediation moment
Whilst Georgia has long acted as an informal home for peace building initiatives between Armenia and Azerbaijan, its recent offer of its “good offices” shows a higher level of engagement. In this op-ed, Benyamin Poghosyan looks at what's behind this…
Revitalizing the EU-Moldova dialogue: between geopolitical enthusiasm, “historical moment” and local limitations
The political dialogue between the European Union (EU) and Moldova is at its highest level since the signing of the Association Agreement in 2014. After almost seven years of geopolitical turmoil in foreign policy and numerous domestic political…
Armenian Foreign Policy Priorities After the 2021 Early Parliamentary Elections
Source: Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (Rondeli Foundation)
A Template for Staged Accession to the EU
An idea is gaining ground that a system of accession to the EU in stages is now needed to revive and sustain the incentives for the states of the Western Balkans to continue their European integration journey and overcome an apparent impasse over accession…
Between EU expectations and the political reality in Georgia and Moldova: contradictions and risks
The ruling political class generates the main obstacles in the reform processes in the countries with the most pro-European agendas of the Eastern Partnership - Georgia and Moldova (including Ukraine). The political will, the style of government and…
What is Armenia’s Position on the Future of Karabakh
Following the signing of the ceasefire agreement on November 10, 2020, which ended the Karabakh War with Armenia’s defeat, possibly the topic most discussed is the relationship between Armenia and Karabakh (Artsakh). What is Armenia’s goal regarding…
Foreign policy priorities of Armenia after the June 2021 early parliamentary elections
The results of the June 2021 early parliamentary elections in Armenia surprised many. Almost all were sure that incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan would receive more votes than opposition parties and blocks. However, few anticipated that the…
Overcoming the enlargement impasse – some ideas for the Slovenian presidency
The Slovenian presidency of the EU, which started on 1 July, has placed the enlargement process for the Western Balkans high on its list of priorities. But the process is in a dangerous state of impasse, leaving the states of the Western Balkans and…
Deepening differentiation within the Eastern Partnership and the emergence of the pan-European "Trio"
Eastern European states that prioritize European integration launch a geopolitical platform within the Eastern Partnership (EaP). More precisely, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have decided to lay the foundations…
Developments in “DNR” and “LNR”: 6 – 25 May 2021
Summary The depth of the economic crisis in the “People’s Republics” was highlighted by a bitter strike over unpaid wages in one of its biggest steel factories. There were also fresh reports of systemic divides between Donetsk…
Georgia's future is European
By Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council.Opinions…
Poll: Attitude of the Armenian Society towards the Internal Political Crisis and the Options for its Possible Solution
Results and Analysis of the Opinion Poll Conducted by the Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC) in Armenia in 2021 on the Attitude of the Armenian Society towards the Internal Political Crisis and the Options for its Possible…
Towards de-facto annexation? Current developments in the “People’s Republics” of eastern Ukraine 2020/2021
After a project-related break, Program "Civic monitoring in eastern Ukraine" is pleased to be able to inform you again about current political, economic, and social events in the eastern Ukrainian "People's Republics". From next week on, the project…
Biden's G-moment should not be interpreted as a shift in US policy towards the South Caucasus
Biden's use of the word "genocide" was a significant moral victory for the Armenian people, however, the geostrategic implications of this for the South Caucasus should not be exaggerated,…
"Sputnik V" at the EU border and Russia's targets in Moldova
The continuing deterioration of bilateral relations between the EU and Russia paralyzes, with cumulative effect, the mutual trust. The ongoing destabilization of security in Eastern Europe (particularly in Ukraine) by the Russian factor keeps…
Opinion: Armenia’s endgame in the aftermath of the 2020 Karabakh war needs to be clarified
Still recovering from the war, it is not yet clear what Armenia's strategy is for Nagorno Karabakh. Without a coherent and consistent policy from the Armenian government, Armenia may lose what it retains of the enclave, warns Benyamin Poghosyan…
Opinion: Snap parliamentary elections are unlikely to resolve Armenia’s political gridlock
Armenia appears heading for snap parliamentary elections on 20 June, but hopes that the poll may resolve the current gridlock in the Armenian political arena may be premature. Benyamin Poghosyan argues in this op-ed that for Armenia, things may…
Crisis spiral in Georgia and Moldova – commonalty, distinctions and ways out
Two political crises, different in essence but quite similar in their destructive nature, are boiling with varying intensity along the EU’s Eastern borders — one in Georgia and another one in Moldova. The two countries are struggling with endemic and…
What next in Armenia – Russia relations
Relations with Russia were always a cornerstone for Armenian foreign policy. Since Armenia has regained its independence in 1991, Russia has been its essential political and military ally. Several reasons were behind such a choice – geopolitics, history,…
Ukraine’s progress in implementation of 20 Eastern Partnership deliverables for 2020
In 2020, experts of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (UNP EaP CSF) analyzed the implementation of 20 expected deliverables of the Eastern Partnership for the period from September 16, 2019, to September…
2020 Deliverables: How Strong is Strong Enough for Georgian Economy?
In 2016, the EU and the EaP countries agreed on an ambitious agenda to deliver strengthened economies by2020. In line with this agenda, Georgia has developed an institutional and regulatory framework as foreseen…
Ukraine’s integration into the EU’s Digital Single Market: Potential Economic Benefits
For Ukraine, integration into the EU’s DSM is a tool for deepening its economic integration into the EU’s internal market, as well as facilitating the digitalization of Ukraine in accordance with European and international standards. It involves expansion…
EU-Russia relationship in 2021 - between "distorted pragmatism" and "resilient foreign policy"
In its style, the political regime in Moscow, whose authoritarian traits are continually multiplying, skillfully uses foreign policy to compensate for the deficiencies of legitimacy in domestic politics. Paradoxically, the survival of Vladimir…
Nagorno-Karabakh becomes Russia's latest protectorate in the South Caucasus
Ukraine Local elections were highly competitive, violations specific to communities but not centrally planned
Civil Network OPORA reports that according to preliminary results, local elections were highly competitive and generally complied with legislation. Ukrainian citizens had a wide and diverse choice among candidates (parties), which were provided with…
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict in the Caucasus: Interview with Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict goes on in spite of the two ceasefires agreed and which violated a short time aGer their coming into force. The material damage and loss of life, military and civilian, are important for both sides. The regional…
Ukraine’s regional “soft power”. Changes during the presidency of Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Do you remember the way Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed residents…
The „darlings” of the EU conditionality mechanism - Georgia, Moldova or Ukraine?
For the time being, EU macro-financial assistance has been a useful mechanism for expanding European influence in the Eastern Neighborhood. But there are other geopolitical forces in the region, such as Russia, which can copy European instruments.
5-year Halfway of Association Agreement Implementation: Key Conclusions and Trends
According to the results of the Monitoring Report "Ukraine and Association Agreement. Monitoring of Implementation in 2014-2019", Ukraine implemented the Agreement to the extent of 41,6%. This indicator includes all the work done, such as draft…
EaP CSF COVID-19 Briefing Paper: lessening the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has led most governments to impose restrictive measures. As a result, economies in the Eastern Partnership have been hit hard. Even though actions to mitigate the economic impact have been taken by governments, such as tax relief,…
Developments in “DNR” and “LNR”: 19 June – 23 July 2020
Summary In a rare breakthrough, the Minsk negotiators brokered another ceasefire and agreed to open two new crossing points in the Luhansk region. But the existing entry-exit points with Ukraine proper remained largely closed…
EaP CSF COVID-19 Briefing Paper: fundamental rights and freedoms during the COVID-19 crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a litmus test for even the most advanced democracies, prompting societies to discuss their fundamental rights concerns. Civil society in all 6 Eastern Partnership countries has been vocal on a series of concerns related…
June of High Level and Low Content
June 2020 was fruitful in events directly related to the Eastern Partnership policy development. On June 11, the EU and Eastern Partnership countries’ foreign ministers had a video conference meeting, and, on June 18, the heads of the states…
Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine: European Implementation Assessment (update)
This European implementation assessment (EIA) has been prepared by the Ex-Post Evaluation Unit (EVAL) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) in order to assist the AFET committee in their scrutiny work, and has been produced…
COVID-19 Crisis Response in EU Eastern Partner Countries (as of April 14)
Coronavirus: guidance to governments on respecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law
The
COVID-19 Crisis Response in EU Eastern Partner Countries
The outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis on public health in the six EU Eastern Partner (EaP) countries remains limited to date, yet containment and social distancing measures have had a significant economic impact, particularly on small and medium-sized…
Evaluating the initial impact of COVID-19 containment measures on economic activity
This note is produced by the OECD Economics Department. It provides illustrative estimates of the initial direct impact on output and spending from the widespread measures taken by governments to contain…
Analysis: Coronavirus presents Armenia with difficult challenges
In this analysis for commonspace.eu, Benyamin Poghosyan looks at how Armenia has managed the Coronavirus pandemic so far, and examines the likely massive impact on the economy The COVID-19 pandemic has confronted…
Scenarios for the Conflict Settlement in Donbas
Volodymyr Zelensky’s coming to power has raised expectations regarding the settlement of the conflict over Donbas among many Ukrainians, as well as foreign observers. A poll conducted by the Rating Sociological Group showed that 24% of Ukrainians believe…
Monitoring Report Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the Facilitation of the Issuance of Visas (5th monitoring)
The study was carried out with the financial support of Open Society Foundations-Armenia. The opinions and analysis contained in this Report reflect the views of the authors and are not endorsed by Open Society Foundations-Armenia…
Events in the “People’s Republics” of eastern Ukraine. Annual Report 2019
The year 2019 brought big political change to Ukraine with the election of Volodymyr Zelenskiy as President, but the “People’s Republics” largely remained as they were in late 2018. While there was unprecedented progress in negotiations to implement…
EU-Ukraine: making Association work
The Association Agreement (AA) is a game changer in Ukraine’s integration with the EU. The AA provides a comprehensive rulebook to guide Ukraine’s efforts in implementing much of the acquis. As such, the AA is unprecedented insofar as it provides a…
Integration within Association: Implementation Dynamics of the EU-Ukraine Agreement (3rd edition)
The publication offers an analysis of the implementation of the economic part of the Association Agreement (as of November 2019). The most important goal of this economic part is Ukraine`s integration into the common EU market. The Association Agreement…
Developments in “DNR” and “LNR”: 07 - 23 December 2019
Developments in “DNR” and “LNR”: 07 - 23 December 2019 (Newsletter 69) No signs of reconciliation during or after Paris summit Separatist…
Ukraine & Association Agreement: new season (monitoring of the implementation of the Association Agreement for 9 months)
2019 became a year of both ambitious achievements and major challenges. Ratification of the amendments to Annex XXVII of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which became the first «upgrade» of the Agreement since its enactment,…
Implementation of Association Agreements in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine: a comparative overview
This comparative overview of Association Agreements implementation in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine was prepared in order to facilitate search for common interests of the three countries in cooperation and peer-to-peer learning. It presents the key…
Trilateral Gas Talks on Future Russian Gas Transit via Ukraine
In September, after an eight-month beak, the trilateral gas talks between the European Commission (EC), Ukraine, and Russia resumed. The aim is to reach agreement on Russian gas transit via Ukraine to the EU before the current deal expires…
Shadow Report: 5 years of implementation of Association Agreement Republic of Moldova and European Union (2014-2019)
The Institute for European Policies and Reforms and the Expert-Group have prepared the Alternative Report, which provides an unbiased view on the evolution of the EU-Moldova dialogue, while reflecting the most important…
EU-Armenia Relations in the Framework of Visa Facilitation and Liberalization
Obtaining a visa-free regime with the EU is one of the main goals set both in the EU’s Eastern Partnership and in the 2019 Programme of the Government of Armenia. The final stage for reaching the visa-liberalization agreement, namely the…
Mapping Georgia’s Visa-Free Progress: The Quest for a Preventive Strategy
This paper examines EU-Georgia post-visa free official discourse, facts and statistics against the negative benchmarks identified in the Visa Suspension Mechanism, which was introduced as a measure of self-defense by the European Union.…
Five Years of EU-Moldova Visa Free Travel
The visa free travel regime with the EU is considered one of the key results of EU-Moldova cooperation since the Eastern Partnership (hereinafter EaP) was launched in May 2009. To date, over 2.1 million Moldovan citizens (over 60% of the…
Judicial (In)Dependence: Judicial Governance Lessons For Eastern Partnership Countries
This Report is dedicated to the research on the outcomes of activities of judicial governance agencies’ tasked with recruitment of judges and review of complaints on disciplinary violations committed by judges in Eastern Partnership countries, which…
Words and Wars. Ukraine Facing Kremlin Propaganda
Joining efforts and skills to confront propaganda
Ukraine at war truth against Russian propaganda
How Russian Propaganda Portrays European Leaders
Recommendations by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) on Combating Disinformation and Propaganda
IRI NED The Beacon Project
Will European integration remain a priority for Ukraine? Assessing the promises of parliamentary elections frontrunners.
Having hardly enough time to come round from the presidential campaign, Ukrainian voters will march to the polling stations again as soon as this Sunday, but this time – to elect a new Parliament. Which parties advocate moving toward the EU…
Rebels without a Cause: Russia’s Proxies in Eastern Ukraine
Europe Report No. 254, 16 July 2019. International Crisis Group. Principal Findings. What’s new? Russia’s gradual retreat from any plans to annex parts of eastern Ukraine has opened schisms…
The Surkov Leaks: Major report on Russia’s hybrid war in Ukraine published at RUSI Institute
A report on how Russia pursues hybrid war to destabilize Ukraine has been published on 16 July 2019 at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute, the world’s oldest independent defense and security think…
The search for ways to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty over the occupied Donbass: public opinion on the eve of the parliamentary elections
This nationwide study was conducted jointly by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center sociological service on June 13-20, 2019 in every Ukrainian region except for Crimea and occupied territories…
Q&A: Tbilisi Violence Was An 'Accident Waiting To Happen'
Events took a violent turn overnight when protesters gathered in front of parliament in downtown Tbilisi on June 20 to express outrage after an interparliamentary grouping on Orthodoxy allowed a Russian lawmaker to occupy the speaker's seat earlier…
Updating and amending Annexes XXX and XXXI to the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine (environment and climate change). Position paper 2019
Resource & Analysis Center “Society and Environment”. This position paper offers recommendations to relevant stakeholders as to updating and amending Annexes XXX and XXXI to the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine.…
Advancing Eastern Partnership: 23 Civil Society Ideas for the policy beyond 2020
EaP Civil Society Forum. “Advancing Eastern Partnership: 23 Civil Society Ideas for the Policy beyond 2020” came out of six focus groups, coordinated by Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) – bringing together experts and members…
The war in Donbass: realities and prospects of settlement
Razumkov Centre. “National Security & Defence”, 01-02/2019. Russian Intervention in the East of Ukraine: Findings of Expert and National Surveys by the Razumkov Centre. The Donbas Conflict: Assessments and Opinions of Domestic and Foreign…
Political Elite Renewal in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
In Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, the legacy of the Soviet past and the challenging transition processes of the 1990s have delayed the emergence of a new generation of reformist leaders who practise the principles and values of good governance. Since…
Ukraine and the Association Agreement: Implementation Monitoring 2014–2018
Ukrainian Centre for European Policy (UCEP). In 2018, Ukraine had to approximate its legislation to EU legislation in six areas: transport, social policy, technical barriers to trade, establishment and trade in services, environment and company…
Integration within Association: Dynamics of the EU-Ukraine Agreement Implementation
The policy paper offers an innovative perspective of looking at the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement as an opportunity to integrate Ukraine into the EU’s Internal Market. It lists all the 14 sectors where such integration is foreseen by the…
What has remained of the USSR: Exploring the Erosion of the Post-Soviet Space
FIIA Report 58, February 2019. Almost three decades have passed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In the meantime, a whole new generation has grown up with no personal memory of the Soviet era. However, the disintegration of a former…
EU-Russia sanctions exchange has had important economic and political consequences
The Russian economy has suffered but also adapted, while pivoting to the East. Ukraine is still in trouble and the EU lacks a strategy. Source: WIIW.
The meaning of "association" under EU law - A study on the law and practice of EU Association Agreements
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee, analyses the law and practice of EU association agreements. It maps out different types of…
Sanctions Against Russia: No Damage to the EU (infographics)
New Europe Center designed infographics about the effects of the EU countries from the introduction of sanctions against Russia, which show that the economy of European countries hardly suffered from these restrictive measures. Moreover, many EU member…
What have we learned from Georgia’s presidential election?
Georgian expert Ghia Nodia sums up the election's results. The recent presidential elections in Georgia were the most competitive and dramatic since 2012, when Georgian Dream (GD) ousted the United National Movement (UNM) from…
Ukraine’s Implementation of 20 Eastern Partnership Deliverables for 2020
The European Union strongly supports building relations with Eastern Partnership countries based on the…
What Kind of Assistance to Ukrainians Expect from the EU and the US?
Ukrainians are generally convinced of the need for assistance from the EU and the US. Quite an insignificant number of citizens oppose receiving assistance from the Western governments. The largest portion of those who would abandon external…
Blue Helmets in Donbas A phased and Sequenced Scenario to Unlock the Minsk Agreements and Restore Peace in Ukraine
UPEACE Centre The Hague (UPH) presented a report in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Wednesday, October 17th, 2018, on the options and possibilities for deploying a UN peace-keeping force in the Eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. The report,…
3rd Shadow Report on the implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement - I Semester 2018
The Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) has issued on Monday, 10 SEP 2018, the 3rd Shadow Report on the implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement - I Semester 2018 (enclosed). The Report was prepared by IPRE with…
Is it ‘the economy, stupid’ in the EU’s southern neighbourhood?
While trade wars threaten across the Atlantic, enhanced economic cooperation could be the key to stability in the EU’s southern neighbourhood.
‘Statehood’, ‘de facto Authorities’ and ‘Occupation’: Contested Concepts and the EU’s Engagement in its European Neighbourhood Bruno Coppieters
Ethnopolitics, 2018. The legal concepts of ‘statehood’, ‘de facto authorities’ and ‘occupation’ are used for analysing both the type of control that unrecognized political entities in Europe exercise over their territory and population, and…
Four Positions on the Recognition of States in and after the Soviet Union, with Special Reference to Abkhazia
Europe-Asia Studies, 70:6, 991-1014. This essay looks at why, how and with what degree of success the international community has applied its recognition policies in the post-Soviet space. The essay addresses the issue from a normative perspective…
Rebuilding Ukraine: An Assessment of EU Assistance
Summary. Ukraine opted for political association and economic integration with the European Union (EU) when it signed an Association Agreement (AA) in 2014. The agreement is unprecedented in that the country has committed to reforms without…
Opinion Survey 2018: Regional Overview
The EU neighbours east project, in collaboration with ACT LLC, carries out opinion polls in the six EU's Eastern Partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) on an annual basis. According to the…
"Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates" Newsletter (Moldova, July, NR. 5)
Foreign Policy Association together with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung offer you a newsletter on foreign policy and European integration issues of the Republic of Moldova. The newsletter is part of the “Foreign Policy Dialogue” joint Project. Topics…
The biggest achievements of the Ukrainian reforms
RPR Coalition experts analyzed the course of reforms after the Revolution of Dignity and identified the most important concrete and quantifiable…
Report on complementary and alternative modes of engagement with the Eastern Partnership countries
The report provides an inside-out perspective on EU engagement beyond or in the absence of Association Agreements. The report sheds light on how the "20 Deliverables for 2020" were perceived in Moldova and Belarus, as well as how the…
Study - Association agreements between the EU and Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine
The study presents the successes and shortcomings of the implementation of three association agreements singes by the EU with Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. The study is composed of four papers: the first presents the opinions of the EU monitoring and…
The Social Consequences of Population Displacement in Ukraine: The Risks of Marginalisation and Social Exclusion
Soon after de facto annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation in February-March 2018, the Donbas was plunged into a brutal – albeit undeclared or ‘hybrid’ – war that pitted Russia and its proxy military forces against Ukraine. In…
Getting Out from "In-Between": Perspectives on the Regional Order in Post-Soviet Europe and Eurasia
Russia's relations with the West are in deep turmoil. While the competitive dynamic between Russia and the West has come to a head in Ukraine, all of the "in-between" states — Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan — are objects…
Russia-Ukrainian relations: The farewell that wasn't
Originally published by Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), Briefing Paper 235. The “Revolution of Dignity” led to a considerable decrease in Russian economic, political and soft power influence over Ukraine. Yet the process…
Foreign Direct Investment in the EU and the Eastern Partnership Countries
Think tank for European Parliament. Upon request of the Euronest parliamentary assembly economic committee, investment patterns and policies in the EU and Eastern Partnership countries were compared. The EU is an investment heavyweight,…
Annual Report on the Events in the "People’s Republics" of Eastern Ukraine 2017
Those hoping that eastern Ukraine’s Russian-controlled "people’s republics" may soon return to their homeland suffered significant setbacks last year. The trade blockade and the ensuing seizure of industrial assets hammered another wedge between them…
Economic Monitor Moldova 2017
The “Economic Monitor Moldova” provides an overview over the most important economic indicators and also offers an assessment of current topics by the German Economic Team (GET) Moldova. Overview: Economic growth at 3.5% in 2017; Weaker…
Can the United Nations Unite Ukraine?
Rasmussen Global commissioned a report by UN expert Richard Gowan to examine the make- up of a peacekeeping mission that could realistically bring about long-lasting peace in the Donbas. The report was published by the Hudson Institute. Key points…
Can Peacekeepers Break the Deadlock in Ukraine?
International Crisis Group. What’s the issue? In September 2017, Moscow proposed the deployment of UN peacekeepers along the line dividing Ukrainian from separatist and Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. Such a mission would not help…
Civil Society in post-Euromaidan Ukraine: Special Issue of Kyiv-Mohyla Law and Politics Journal
Table of contents. Articles: Introduction to the Special Issue. Civil Society in Ukraine: Building on Euromaidan Legacy by Olga Burlyuk, Natalia Shapovalova, Kateryna Zarembo.
Renewal of Negotiations on Resolving the Transnistria Conflict
On 27–28 November, after a year and a half break, international talks on a resolution to the Transnistria conflict took place in Vienna. They were preceded by the signing of technical agreements facilitating everyday life for the inhabitants of the…
From Objectives to Results: the Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement as seen by Stakeholders
The Ukrainian Side of the EU-Ukraine Civil Society Platform. The report “From Objectives to Results: the Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement as Seen by Stakeholders” was written by the Ukrainian Side of the EU-Ukraine Civil…
Crossing the line: how the illegal trade with occupied Donbass has undermined defence integrity
Independent Defence Anti-Corruption Committee (NAKO). The Independent…
Terra Incognita: The public mood in Crimea
Since the incorporation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as subjects of the Russian Federation in March 2014 Crimea has, by and large, become terra incognita. The ZOiS (the Centre for East European and International Studies) survey conducted…
The state of implementation of the associations and free trade agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova with a particular focus on Ukraine and systemic analysis of key sectors
Signing and ratifying Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine has proven to be an impressive affirmation of Brussels’ soft power. The EU’s overtures have persuaded elites and mobilised societies despite the fact that the Agreements…
Is peace in Donbass possible?
An ambitious international peacekeeping and transition operation is badly needed in the Donbass. Suddenly there is new attention to crisis management in the eastern Europe after Russia accepted out of the blue the idea of a UN peacekeeping…
The Reforms Guide: a book for understanding seventeen key reforms taking place in Ukraine
Dear readers, you have the Reforms Guide in your hands, and it will help you to find your way around the tricky labyrinth of reforms that started with the Revolution of Dignity. The Government undertook 62 reforms and stated this in The Strategy…
EU-navigator: monitoring of the Association Agreement fulfilment by Ukraine
Ukrainian Centre for European Policy. How many obligations has Ukraine to fulfil according to the Association Agreement? And in what term? Check out the project by Ukrainian Centre for European (UCEP). Disclaimer:…
Moldova: State of the Country Report 2017
Moldova’s state of the country has worsened against the background of a number of exacerbating systemic vulnerabilities. The development prospects of the country are challenged by a series of economic, social and demographic constraints. From…
Ukraine in the coordinates of the Eastern Partnership 2017-2020
Expert review of the Joint Staff Working Document on Eastern Partnership – 20 Deliverables for 2020: Focusing on Key Priorities and Tangible Results. The Joint Staff Working Document on .Eastern Partnership – 20 Deliverables for 2020: Focusing…
Ukraine: Reforms under the Microscope. Overview of the Key Reform Developments in 2016 - early 2017
In this publication, experts of the Reanimation Package of Reforms – Ukrainian coalition of non-governmental organizations – analyze the key tasks that Ukraine is facing on its path towards institutional, economic, and social reforms, as well as assess…
Economic situation in Moldova improving significantly (report)
German Economic Team (GET) Moldova. The Moldovan economy has to a large extent regained stability and returned to a growth track. The lack of financial support by international donors and low investment had created a difficult environment for…
The effect of company seizures and trade suspension in Donbass
German Advisory Group Ukraine. In March, a further escalation of the economic component of the conflict in Donbas occurred. Ukrainian-owned businesses in the non-controlled area (NCA) were seized by the de-facto authorities. In reaction, the…
Foreign Direct Investment in Ukraine: War and Peace
While the uncertainty around the military conflict with Russia limits investment, the Ukrainian government will have to address the long-standing obstacles to FDI if it hopes to increase the odds of attracting genuinely foreign capital into the country.
Economic Monitor Moldova
German Economic Team Moldova. The “Economic Monitor Moldova” by the German Economic Team Moldova provides an overview over the most important economic indicators and also offers an assessment of current topics by GET Moldova. Overview: Consumption…
Ukraine and the EU: What Think Tanks are thinking
Relations between the European Union and Ukraine have been improving since the Maidan protests ousted President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, leading to the election of pro-Western Petro Poroshenko as head of state. At their meeting on 12-13 July, EU…
Assessing the EU's conflict prevention and peacebuilding interventions in Ukraine
The European Union has been slow and reactive in responding to the crisis in Ukraine and the following conflict between the Kremlin and Kyiv but, nevertheless, provided some positive impact on the peacebuilding process. This in-depth case study…
Energy, Russian Influence and Democratic Backsliding in Central and Eastern Europe
Expert Forum. The democratic transitions in Central and Eastern Europe are facing significant challenges. Across the region, Russia is expanding its economic and political influence and using it to undermine democratic standards and values.…
Making the system work: enhancing security assistance to Ukraine
Independent Defence Anti-Corruption Committee. The purpose of this report is to analyse corruption-related risks related to the provision of security assistance to Ukrainian armed forces. The Independent Defence Anti-Corruption Committee (NAKO)…
DCFTA implementation in Ukraine: Assessment after one year
In January 2016 started the provisional application of the deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA) between the EU and Ukraine. After one year, we assess the implementation of the treaty by Ukraine. More precisely, we review seven fields: market…
Ukraine and the Association Agreement: Implementation Monitoring July 1 — November 1, 2016
The Association Agreement provides that Ukraine is obliged to implement approximately 350 EU legal acts (directives, regulations, decisions) by 2025. Under the terms defined in the Agreement for the period of July 1, 2016 – November 1, 2016,…
Donbass In Flames: Guide to the conflict zone
This publication is the result of work of a group of authors of various competencies: investigative journalism, politology, geography, and history. Written as a kind of vade mecum , this guidebook will familiarize the reader with the precursors, problems,…
The Real Price of Coal in the Wartime Donbass a Human Rights perspective
This publication presents results of a study conducted by the Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives in cooperation with partner organizations from the Coalition of human rights organizations and initiatives “Justice for Peace in Donbas” with…
The Displaced Ukrainians Who are they, and what do they think?
A survey conducted by ZOiS in November and December 2016 provides the first comparative data on the attitudes and identities of the people displaced by the war in Eastern Ukraine both within Ukraine and to Russia. One group severely affected…
Donbass: A Ticking Toxic Time Bomb
As the fighting between the Ukrainian army and Russia-backed forces re-ignited at the end of January 2017, various news reports highlighted the shelling of industrial sites. Calls by the United Nations and Organisation for Security and Cooperation…
Eurasian Economic Union: Current state and preliminary results
This paper assesses the current results of the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). On the one hand, the EAEU has not been an impeccable “success story”. The EAEU’s progress has slowed after initial rapid progress. On the other hand,…
Annual Report on the Events in the “People’s Republics” of Eastern Ukraine 2016
An important key to understanding the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine lies in the self-proclaimed “People’s Republics”. How do the “authorities” function and what rules the politics in these regions? Who determines the political process and what…
Annual survey 2016 - Eastern Partnership regional overview (factsheets)
his series of factsheets presents selected findings from the 'EU NEIGHBOURS east' Annual survey 2016 – regional overview of the 1st wave conducted in the six Eastern Neighbourhood countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine).…
Impact of the EU-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement on the Dutch Economy
We predict the impact of the EU-Ukraine DCFTA on the Dutch economy using an international trade model. We find that, in the long run, the DCFTA could nearly triple Dutch exports to Ukraine and nearly double Dutch imports from Ukraine. These effects…
Machine Industry Transformation in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova
The policy paper “Machine Industry Transformation in Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova” was produced within the project “Vulnerable Employment in Machinery in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine: Setting a Common Policy Agenda”, supported by…
The Migration Security Map of Ukraine 2016
CO “Europe without barriers”. Research on statistics and the latest trends of Ukrainian migration to the EU in November 2016. The research is based on the methodology that was used by the European Commission in 2014 and 2015 for the…
Benefits and Costs of DCFTA: Evaluation of the Impact on Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
The study provides an impact evaluation of the DCFTA implementation in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. We analyse benefits and costs that have already materialised or are yet expected to manifest themselves in the longer run in the public and private…
Republic of Moldova 2016: State of the Country Report
The Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is launching today, the 30th of September, in the framework of the 4th Edition of the Annual International Conference MACRO 2016, the State of the Country Report…
Energy Reforms in Ukraine: August 2016 review
The project "Enhancing impact of civil society in monitoring and policy dialogue on energy and related sectors’ reforms in line with the Association Agreement implementation" presents the monitoring report on Ukraine’s progress in the implementation…
Georgia: what is at stake?
Political expert Gia Nodia with three major questions to be answered at the October 8 elections.
EU Membership Perspective for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine: impossible, forgotten or hidden?
Source: Institute of World Policy (Kyiv).
Ukraine: The Line
International Crisis Group. Kyiv / Brussels, 18 July 2016. Overview. The 500km line of separation between Russian-supported separatist districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and the rest of Ukraine is not fit for purpose.…
The Role of Women and Gender Policies in Addressing the Military Conflict in Ukraine
Fifteen years after the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is far from ideal. The ongoing security crisis in Ukraine is a good example of how contemporary…
Ratification Chart of the Association Agreements
Prospects of the Occupied Donbass: Current Situation and Further Development Forecast
Analytical Center "Digests & Analytics Ukraine".
Supporting Ukraine's Difficult Path Towards Reforms
This Policy paper by Jan Jakub Chromiec, associate research fellow at the Jacques Delors Institut - Berlin, and Nicole Koenig, research fellow at the Jacques Delors Institut - Berlin, assesses Ukraine's post-Maidan reform progress and outlines how…
EU-Republic of Moldova Deep and Comprehensive Free-Trade Area: Reading guide
European Commission The European Union (EU) and the Republic of Moldova…
Operational Annual Report 2013: Neighbourhood Investment Facility
EU Support to the Private Sector in the context of Association Agreements including DCFTAs (Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine)
DAI Europe.
The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area: A New Legal Instrument for EU Integration Without Membership
In The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, Guillaume Van der Loo provides the first comprehensive legal analysis of this complex and controversial international agreement. While key political and legal…
Review of European Neighborhood Policy, implications for Moldova and Russia’s place
Source...Ukraine's will to liberalise: Tested on many fronts
Faced with a deteriorating economy, unstable internal security and the financial repercussions of military efforts in the east, Ukraine is striving to create a businessfriendly climate. To this end, the country is preparing for the enforcement by 1…
East Invest reports highlight DCFTA challenges for SMEs in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
Trade Policy Review: Moldova
The first review of the trade policies and practices of Moldova takes place on 19 and 21 October 2015. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Moldova. Source...
Romania, Russian factor and erosion of European agenda in Moldova
Source...
Eastern Partnership Revisited: Associated Countries in Focus
Ukrainians Look to the West - Policy Assessment and Expectations
EaP CSF Re-granting Scheme 2015
Report from the Commission on the implementation of macro-financial assistance to third countries in 2014
This staff working document is published in parallel with the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of macro-financial assistance (MFA) to third countries in 2014. It provides economic and financial…
EU Tariff Rate Quotas on Imports from Ukraine
Report on Implementation of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine
This report covers the information on major activities and results of the implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine (hereinafter – the Agreement), which was planned and performed in the period from September 2014…
EU-Ukraine Association Agreement: “Guide to the Association Agreement”
EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area: Reading guide
The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement: Assessment of an Innovative Legal Instrument
This paper analyses the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (AA). It argues that this new legal framework, which has the objective to establish a unique form of political association and economic integration, is characterised by three specific features:…
Support Package for Ukraine
