GEO-POWER-EU Talks – Episode 3: Opportunities and Risks for the EU in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership after Trump
The third session of the GEO-POWER-EU Talks podcast, hosted by Samuel Doveri Vesterbye (Director of the European Neighbourhood Council), explores the EU’s evolving role in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions in the post-Trump geopolitical context. Drawing on insights from the newly launched GEO-POWER-EU Interdependence Database, the episode examines the complex political, economic, security, and societal interdependencies shaping the EU’s external relations.
The discussion features expert contributions from Dr. Sonja Stojanović Gajić (University of Rijeka), Dr. Valery Perry (Democratization Policy Council), Branimir Jovanović (Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies), and Kakha Gogolashvili (Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies). Together, they explore how EU candidate countries can contribute to European security, the limitations of EU leverage in the Western Balkans—particularly in Serbia—and the persistent disconnect between economic engagement and political influence.
The conversation also addresses the sustainability of Serbia’s dual alignment with the EU and authoritarian powers, the strategic importance of attracting high-quality foreign investment, and the implications of external actors gaining influence in the region.
Listen to the in-depth discussion here: