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Event

The Eastern Partnership through the eyes of experts

22—23.01.2025 (Wednesday), 12:00
Where:
Warsaw
Organiser:

The Mieroszewski Centre, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP),  European Commission

Language:
English
Broadcast:
-
Add to calendar 22-01-2025 12:00 23-01-2025 13:00 Europe/Warsaw The Eastern Partnership through the eyes of experts

The Mieroszewski Centre, in cooperation with the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), organised an expert seminar entitled. ‘European Union Policy in the Eastern Neighbourhood in the Face of a Dynamically Changing Security Landscape’.

Warsaw

The Mieroszewski Centre, in cooperation with the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), organised an expert seminar entitled. ‘European Union Policy in the Eastern Neighbourhood in the Face of a Dynamically Changing Security Landscape’.

This event - held with the support of the European Commission - was one of the first initiatives related to the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, and at the same time a response to the real challenges shaking the region.

The Warsaw event brought together over a dozen participants - key decision-makers, representatives of think-tanks and independent experts who deal with Eastern policy on a daily basis. It was not only an analytical meeting, but also a place for intense debates and exchange of perspectives on the future of European policy towards its eastern neighbours.

- The Eastern Partnership is an important tool of the European Union's external policy, which targets the area of its eastern neighbourhood that is crucial for Poland - for security reasons. Thanks to discussions among experts and officials, it is possible to calibrate activities in this area even better - Dr Bartłomiej Gajos told us before the workshop.

The European Union's Eastern Neighbourhood Agenda

Russia's war with Ukraine and the growing crises in the region have forced a redefinition of the European Union's policy towards its eastern neighbours. New threats, such as hybrid warfare, disinformation operations or the undermining of democratic institutions, require rapid adaptation and coordinated action from the EU. The seminar provided a space for an in-depth debate on the key challenges and priorities of the EU's Eastern policy and enlargement strategy in the context of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. Through these activities, the Mieroszewski Centre actively participates in the European debate, including discussions on Georgia's aspirations for integration into the Union.

- In view of the security threats facing Armenia, it is crucial that joint action by the European Union contributes to restoring stability in the region. In this context, it is also crucial that these actions support the European Monitoring Mission in Armenia. Another big challenge is Armenia's travel, energy and market agenda. Again, it is the European Union that is the best, indeed the only partner that can effectively support Armenia in these areas. Finally, in the context of Armenia's upcoming parliamentary elections in 2026, it is crucial for the EU to help us prevent internal threats in the country. - Naira Sultanyan, Director of the Armenian Democracy Development Foundation, said during the meeting.


- I think a key way in which the European Union can support Georgian society and citizens is to increase pressure on the government there. As this pressure is both internal and external, it can lead to concrete consequences. We can already see that Georgian citizens are protesting almost on a daily basis. Of course, the governments of the Member States take their own decisions, because we know that it is not easy to achieve unanimity at European Union level. Therefore, the decisions of individual governments will be of great importance, especially in the case of the Weimar Triangle countries, if they decide, for example, to join the sanctions imposed by the Baltic States. I think this is one example of how the European Union can support Georgian society and citizens. - said Kornely Kakachia, Director of the Georgian Institute of Politics.

The results of the discussions can form the basis for policy recommendations and contribute to shaping the EU strategy during the Polish Presidency.

As a co-organiser of the event, the Mieroszewski Centre continues its mission to foster dialogue and expert exchange on key political issues in the region.

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