What is the EU’s role in resolving conflicts in occupied territories within eastern candidate countries? Why the EU membership is a powerful incentive for reform and stability? Re-read @teftak.bsky.social and Sergi Kapanadze's policy brief @ecfreuropeansec.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4le7c8m

The EU should draw up a policy to deal with Russian annexation actions in breakaway and occupied regions, and embed this in its evolving approach towards Russia, write Tefta Kelmendi and Sergi Kapanadzi. Read their latest policy brief here: https://bit.ly/4le7c8m

🇬🇪Why is Georgian Dream surviving despite mass protests, backlash, and international condemnation? The answer isn’t repression alone. It’s money. 🧵A thread on how Bidzina Ivanishvili’s fortune and Russian inflows saved his regime - and why it’s still may crack. 1/16

EYES ON GEORGIA! The court hearing of Girchi-MF leader Zurab Girchi Japaridze, also one of the leaders of Coalition for Change will begin now. The expectation is that they’ll jail Zurab Girchi Japaridze over non-cooperation with regime’s history-revising, Stalin-era "Parliamentary committee." 1/

Armenia and Azerbaijan have never been so close to peace—but bilateral issues and geopolitical complications mean a new escalation is still possible, writes @dumoulinme.bsky.social @ecfrwidereurope.bsky.social

Prime Minister #EdiRama managed to present himself as "the most pro-EU, pragmatic and constructive leader in the region," @ecfr.eu's @teftak.bsky.social told The New Union Post. However, this could lead the EU to overlook "deeper, systemic issues" #EPCSummit #Albania newunionpost.eu/2025/05/16/e...

After my recent trip to #Tbilisi, it’s clear Europe must act fast. The window to support dialogue and halt Georgia’s authoritarian drift is closing. The Weimar Triangle + UK are best placed to lead. My latest for @ecfr.eu

#Rama secured more than half of the total vote, on the back of his pledge to bring the country into the EU by 2030. "The support #Albania received from the integration process worked to his advantage," said @teftak.bsky.social (@ecfrwidereurope.bsky.social @ecfr.eu) newunionpost.eu/2025/05/13/e...

Germany has been on the back foot in Europe over the past few years. Chancellor Merz's visits to Paris and Warsaw today beg the question: will that now change? Here's @jpuglierin.bsky.social's and my (very) cautiously upbeat assessment: ecfr.eu/article/from...

Géorgie 🇬🇪 le Congrès US a passé un texte visant directement le régime du Rêve géorgien de l'oligarque Ivanishvili comme pro-Kremlin, à geler toute aide, à introduire des sanctions Magnitsky dans les 60 jours. Il reste donc des gens censés à Washington.

The incoming German government, Britain and the “Weimar Triangle” have a narrow window of opportunity to halt repression and prevent Georgia’s further entanglement with Moscow, writes @teftak.bsky.social ⬇️ ecfr.eu/article/a-na...

After Canada’s election, new momentum is building for closer EU-Canada ties. How can both sides strengthen cooperation on trade, security, and global challenges?

After my recent trip to #Tbilisi, it’s clear Europe must act fast. The window to support dialogue and halt Georgia’s authoritarian drift is closing. The Weimar Triangle + UK are best placed to lead. My latest for @ecfr.eu

Mentre la Georgia traballa sull'orlo dell'autoritarismo, la frattura dell'Europa rischia di consegnare il Caucaso meridionale all'influenza russa e cinese. Secondo @teftak.bsky.social, una coalizione europea potrebbe salvare la democrazia e la stabilità del Paese @ECFRPower👇

Canada and Europe have a renewed opportunity to deepen their partnership. As global alliances shift, this moment is pivotal for strengthening transatlantic ties. Read @jhosa.bsky.social new policy alert. @ecfrpower.bsky.social

Georgia stands at a crossroads. As democratic institutions falter and authoritarianism looms, Europe's response could determine the nation's future. @teftak.bsky.social s latest commentary urges a united European front. @ecfrwidereurope.bsky.social

My recent piece looks at how the EU can engage with Turkey amid the democratic backsliding but also shared strategic interests. Disengagement risks new dependencies as member states start playing solo with Ankara.

European policymakers have little direct influence over Moscow and Washington. However, they can use certain tools as leverage to help shape talks about Ukraine’s future—while ensuring to act in the EU’s best interest, writes @dumoulinme.bsky.social @ecfrwidereurope.bsky.social

I attended today’s protest in #Georgia - it was impressive and moving, to say the least. People feel forgotten, but they sustain this resilience on their own…

📣 It’s a wrap! After three days of fruitful discussions at our ECFR Annual Staff Retreat, in which we dove deep into the policy challenges of today’s world, we’re ready to tackle what lies ahead!

Polls close shortly in Germany. What a good election outcome for Europe would look like: - stable two-part government formed swiftly - AfD underperforming (sub-20%) - clear 2/3 majority (420+ seats) for debt-brake reform - parties pivoting fast from campaign to wider realities

1/ Europe at Munich Security Conference looked like deer in Trump administration's headlights. How have we got this far without a concrete European plan for Ukraine to put on table? How is there *still* no proper consensus among major EU governments (+UK) on how far Europe is willing to step up?

Wrote this for @newstatesman.com in December. Trump will either divide Europeans and make deals over their heads, or have the effect of pushing them together. Which force prevails depends entirely on Europe's leaders making choices they should have made at least a decade ago.

The 🇪🇺 EU needs to reconsider its 🇽🇰 Kosovo policy, shifting from punitive actions to offering genuine incentives for integration. A reliable EU approach is essential for ensuring stability in the #WesternBalkans. @teftak.bsky.social @agonm.bsky.social

🇽🇰 After Kosovo's elections, preliminary results show that forming the next government will require a coalition. As party negotiations begin, explore how the EU can prepare for engagement with Kosovo’s future leadership. 👉 @teftak.bsky.social and @agonm.bsky.social

🗳️ Election Day in Kosovo Voters head to the polls today in a pivotal election that could shape Kosovo’s EU path and its strained relations with Serbia. The outcome will be key to the region’s stability and European future. @teftak.bsky.social @agonm.bsky.social

For the EU to truly move the Western Balkans forward, it must stop tolerating leaders who exploit instability for political gain and prove that the path to European integration is tangible and achievable. @teftak.bsky.social and @agonm.bsky.social 👇

Kosovo votes on Sunday as the EU accession process progresses unevenly. The election outcome could influence efforts to normalise relations with Serbia and advance the region’s European path. by @teftak.bsky.social and @agonm.bsky.social 👇 ecfr.eu/article/why-...

Read the latest commentary by @teftak.bsky.social and @agonm.bsky.social ahead of the upcoming #Kosovo's parliamentary elections, to be held this Sunday👇

Kosovo remains at odds with Serbia—and the EU. The outcome of the country’s imminent election could allow the EU to transform relations between the countries and open the door to Kosovo’s accession, write @teftak.bsky.social and @agonm.bsky.social 👇

The #WesternBalkans lies at the heart of Europe’s energy landscape. This means that the full integration of the Western Balkans into the EU’s #energy framework is not just beneficial, it is essential. If you haven't yet, read @engjellushem.bsky.social & Julian Popov's latest policy brief.

#Russia’s whole full-scale invasion has been consistent with its view of the decline of the West, writes @kadriliik.bsky.social in her latest policy brief, which you can find here.

🔊 Listen here: https://buff.ly/3WKhT9d

USAID, the US government’s main development agency, is under threat. Elon Musk says Trump wants it shut down, describing it as “a ball of worms.” With US foreign aid frozen and its future uncertain, the EU should step up to fill the void 👇

Join us on Jan 29 at 9.30 AM CET Our experts @jkobzova.bsky.social @kadriliik.bsky.social Leo Litra & @dumoulinme.bsky.social will discuss what the EU can do to shape future negotiation in a way that is more favourable to Ukraine’s and their own interests. Register here ⬇️ shorturl.at/l427j

J'avais écrit sur ce sujet il y a quelques mois pour @ecfr.eu @ecfrwidereurope.bsky.social une analyse qui reste (de mon point de vue) pertinente 👇 ecfr.eu/article/ukra...

" By leaving Transnistria out in the cold, Moscow is hoping to weaken the pro-European government in Chisinau in the run-up to the parliamentary election due by the summer" ecfr.eu/article/cold...

What would a Chancellor Merz mean for Germany's place in Europe and the world? @jpuglierin.bsky.social and I reckon 3 pillars define Merzian foreign policy, that they are in tension, and that the election will dictate how those tensions play out. Our @ecfr.eu take: ecfr.eu/article/the-...

Germany’s likely next chancellor shares his party’s pro-EU and Atlanticist instincts, but also the country’s wider reluctance to play an exceptional international role, write @jpuglierin.bsky.social and Jeremy Cliffe. @ecfrpower.bsky.social buff.ly/3VNMP8e

From a regional perspective, supporting Albania’s integration into the EU will enhance ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and stability in the Western Balkans, write @teftak.bsky.social & Gjergji Vurmo ecfr.eu/article/ridi...

Riding the EU wave: What’s next for Albania as it looks to strengthen its European integration? Read @teftak.bsky.social & Gjergji Vurmo's new commentary: ecfr.eu/article/ridi...

Alors que l'Albanie a entamé les discussions en vue de son intégration à l'UE, @teftak.bsky.social et Gjergji Vurmo analysent comment une adhésion réussie pourrait restaurer la crédibilité de l'élargissement dans les pays des Balkans occidentaux et d'Europe de l'Est⤵️ ecfr.eu/article/ridi...

Albania is a strong EU candidate, with 77% public support for EU accession—well above the Western Balkans average of 54%. With sustained political will, Albania could become a success story in the EU's latest enlargement wave: ecfr.eu/article/ridi... @teftak.bsky.social

Albania has begun talks to become an EU MS. Successful accession could restore credibility in the enlargement process for Western Balkan and eastern European candidate countries, write @teftak.bsky.social & Gjergji Vurmo. @ecfrwidereurope.bsky.social ecfr.eu/article/ridi...

"Il est nécessaire que l'UE envoie un message clair et unifié, en se posant comme un acteur de politique étrangère" Lire la contribution de @teftak.bsky.social, dans le dernier numéro de la revue GEOpolitics, consacré à l'avenir de la Géorgie ⤵️ www.politicsgeo.com/journal/18

The latest #EU statement on 🇬🇪 is promising. The Dec 16 FAC must adopt strong conclusions and outline concrete steps to de-escalate the situation, prioritizing new elections and the imposition of sanctions for human rights violations #GeorgiaProtests #HumanRights www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/georgia...

Une semaine après le début d'un nouveau mouvement de protestation en Géorgie, lire la note de @teftak.bsky.social expliquant comment l'UE devrait soutenir les manifestants, réclamer de nouvelles élections et lutter contre l'influence de la Russie⤵️

🇬🇪 Another defection: Irakli Shaishmelashvili, head of the Operational Planning of the Special Task Force at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has resigned from his position. This unit is responsible for the violent crackdowns. GD will not remain the ruling party for much longer.

I met President Vučić and Prime Minister Kurti today. The only way to EU membership is through normalisation of their relations, on the basis of the Ohrid agreement. I welcomed the readiness to fully cooperate after the recent terrorist attack. Perpetrators must face justice.