Europe’s Contested Eastern Neighbourhood

This event examined how the European Union can manage its new reality of a contested Eastern neighbourhood, including Ukrainian reform efforts and ongoing open disagreement with Russia.

The European Union is currently being faced with a new reality in its Eastern Neighbourhood. In particular, the ongoing issue of Ukrainian reform and the support the EU might be able to provide to this process, continues to preoccupy officials and observers across the region. Adding to the EU’s difficulties in this area is the new reality of open conflict with Russia, which will influence how and when the EU is able to act within its neighbourhood.

Marking ECFR’s recent publication of Gustav Gressel’s piece, ‘Keeping up appearances: How Europe is supporting Ukraine’s transformation’, this workshop brought together a select group of officials and analysts to discuss the new realities facing the EU in its Eastern Neighbourhood, and to explore how it may seek to manage its ongoing relations with Russia and its involvement with Ukraine.

 

Schedule:

1215-1230: Registration and Lunch

1230-1400: How is Europe Supporting Ukraine’s Reforms?

This session will examine the possibilities for reform in Ukraine, and the role the EU can play in this process. Specifically, can Ukraine reform? What can the EU do to support it? How might Ukraine fatigue be overcome?

Speakers:

Gustav Gressel, Senior Policy Fellow, ECFR

Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director General, DG NEAR, European Commission

Erik Berglof, Director of the Institute of Global Affairs, LSE

Laurence Broyd, EECAD Research Analyst, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Moderator: Anthony Dworkin, Senior Policy Fellow, ECFR

 

1400-1415: Coffee break

 

1415-1645: New Reality for Europe’s Eastern Neighbourhood

This session will explore how the EU can manage its neighbourhood in the new European reality. How will the new reality of open disagreement with Russia constrain the EU’s actions in its neighbourhood? How can this conflictual situation be managed given it is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon? What does this new reality mean for the ENP countries?

Speakers:

Kadri Liik, Senior Policy Fellow, ECFR

Stanislav Secrieru, Policy Analyst, Open Society European Policy Institute

Yevhen Hlibovytsky, Member of Nestor Group, Kyiv

Moderator: Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director, ECFR

 

This event was organised in partnership with the European Commission Representation in the UK and the LSE European Institute.