Empowering the Geopolitical EU in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans: A Baseline Study

GEO-POWER-EU researchers have successfully completed the baseline study, establishing a solid foundation for the project. Our comprehensive report provides a detailed bibliographical reference and a conceptual framework to guide the project’s future phases as well as serves as both a starting point and a resource for ongoing discussions, fostering a reexamination of long-held assumptions to better inform future policy.

Key highlights include:

• An analysis of EU Enlargement and Eastern Partnership policies, focusing on democratic consolidation, economic convergence, and security alignment.
• A historical perspective on geopolitical competition in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood, examining the roles of global and regional powers.
• A critical review of EU foreign, security, and defense policies, with insights into EU strategic autonomy and responses to recent challenges.