How does illicit finance fuel Russia's 🇷🇺 power projection? Dr. @tenaprelec.bsky.social’s (@cas-see-uniri.bsky.social) new co-authored article unpacks how illicit financial flows shape Moscow’s foreign policy. Read it here: bit.ly/46Db3GT

How can Europe strengthen its defence cooperation amid rising geopolitical challenges? 📣Our new report explores the EU’s evolving roles as well as the hurdles and opportunities for credible security and defence action.

📢 Did you have time to read our newly released #GEOPOWEREU survey report? We asked 9,011 citizens across 🇦🇱🇧🇦🇽🇰🇲🇪🇲🇰🇷🇸🇺🇦🇲🇩🇬🇪 about trust in global powers, EU & NATO, migration, media & politics. Here are some key takeaways ⤵️

📢 How do citizens in the Western Balkans & Associated Trio see global actors, their partners, and their own future?The #GEOPOWEREU project shares fresh results from a Public Opinion Survey across 🇦🇱🇧🇦🇽🇰🇲🇪🇲🇰🇷🇸🇺🇦🇲🇩🇬🇪 A short🧵⤵️

📣New from the #GEOPOWEREU Database Insights Series: A closer look at Kosovo 🇽🇰 A dynamic blend of security realignment and steady Western support is reshaping Kosovo’s external engagements. Here are some key insights: 👇🏼

📣 The #GEOPOWEREU Interdependence Database (geo-power.eu/research-out...) reveals some insightful trends about Serbia 🇷🇸. Let’s take a quick look together🧵 1/4

Why does data matter for 🇧🇦’s EU path? In his new #GEOPOWEREU blog, Omar Memišević explores 🇧🇦’s data collection challenges and how our Interdependence Database offers a foundation for better analysis and decision-making. Read: shorturl.at/Thuc2 Database: shorturl.at/jaN2H

In this week’s #GEOPOWEREU Database Insights, 🇧🇦 takes centre stage: 🔹🇧🇦 has maintained relatively passive diplomatic outreach since 2012 🔹🇪🇺 dominates trade & military presence 🔹🇨🇳’s investment: sporadic but growing 🔹Tensions driving increased 🇪🇺 troop levels Moreℹ️👇🏼

🔍 Have you explored the GEO-POWER-EU Interdependence Database yet? It’s a powerful tool that maps how 9 countries in the Western Balkans & Eastern Partnership regions interact with 5 global actors—🇪🇺 🇺🇸 🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇹🇷—from 2007 to 2024. 🧵Here’s what you can do with it: 👇

🚨 New from our sister project @reunir.bsky.social! How vulnerable are EU Candidate Countries across Western Balkans & Eastern Neighbourhood to military threats, and how can the EU help boost their resilience? Read their report here: shorturl.at/24ufz

In this week’s #GEOPOWEREU Database Insights, North Macedonia is under the spotlight 🇲🇰 🔹100% aligned w/ 🇪🇺 foreign policy since 2023 🔹EU = top development donor 🔹More active in US- than EU-led defence ops 🔹🇪🇺,🇺🇸 & 🇨🇳 lead in scholarships Find more🔗 shorturl.at/jaN2H

📣New blog by Yuliia Tarasiuk (ONU) explores how 🇹🇷 has become a culturally visible and socially engaged actor in 🇺🇦 between 2008–2024, using insights from the #GEOPOWEREU Interdependence Database. 🔗More : bit.ly/4eQM8TI Database: bit.ly/452UyEN

As peaceful protests grow in 🇷🇸, will Brussels stay on autopilot — or stand up for its values? Our DPC colleagues Dr. @kurtbassuener.bsky.social and @tobyvogel.bsky.social have published a new op-ed in EUobserver on the EU’s response to Serbia’s deepening political crisis. 🔗https://shorturl.at/T0do7

🚨New blog by Kakha Gogolashvili & Arsen Arakelov shows how Georgia’s transit strategy is increasingly shaped by geopolitical competition among major powers, drawing insights from the #GEOPOWEREU Interdependence Database 🔗Article: shorturl.at/7BTNs 📊Database: bit.ly/452UyEN

Did you know #Albania🇦🇱 is 100% aligned with the EU's foreign policy? Our first infographic reveals key insights from the #GEOPOWEREU Interdependence Database: 🇪🇺EU-led initiatives 📈Service imports 📚Cultural influence from 🇹🇷 Explore more: 🔗 shorturl.at/jaN2H

📣Happening tomorrow! Join our sister project @reunir.bsky.social for an event titled: "Is European Integration Still on the Table for the Eastern Partnership?" 🗓️July 9 | 🕥 10:30–12:30 CEST 📍College of Europe, Natolin Campus or Online Moreℹ️& registration: bit.ly/4lkQEfQ

The Georgian & Serbian leaders' pivots away from the EU accession path show the bloc's waning appeal. To keep #enlargement on track, the EU should focus on candidate countries that are making genuine progress toward membership, says @dimitarbechev.bsky.social. carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

Happy to be in 🇲🇰 Skopje for the Western Balkans leaders’ meeting. Good exchange with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, whom I thanked for hosting tomorrow’s Summit. Our Growth Plan is already improving lives across the region, but we can do more! Tomorrow will be about delivering more & faster. 🤝

🌍 New @geopower-eu.bsky.social newsletter is out! 🔸 Interdependence Database (2007–2024) 🔸 Weekly blog & podcast on EU, Balkans, global actors 🔸 Highlights from Belgrade conference 👉 Read more: bit.ly/3TOxBhD #GeoPowerEU #HorizonEurope

This was a good discussion on EU security & enlargement perspectives that considers both the Western Balkans as well as the countries in the Eastern Partnership. Comprehensive security underpinned the spread of human rights, good governance & economic opportunity – the EU should remember this.

🎙️New #GEOPOWERTalks episode! How should 🇪🇺 respond to shifting power dynamics in the WB & EaP after Trump? @samueljsdv.bsky.social is joined by Dr @sonjasg.bsky.social, Dr @valeryperry.bsky.social, @branim.bsky.social & Kakha Gogolashvili to unpack key risks & opportunities. 🎧Listen: bit.ly/4la6dqy

📣Dr. @tenaprelec.bsky.social (@cas-see-uniri.bsky.social & GEO-POWER-EU) presented Indulging Kleptocracy on a U.S. tour and engaged with GEO-POWER-EU sister projects during ISA 2025. Find more about the tour and book here: 🔗https://shorturl.at/jDSvG

📣 Dr. @filipejdus.bsky.social (University of Belgrade & GEO-POWER-EU) shared his insights in a commentary for The Parliament Magazine, highlighting how Vučić’s short-term focus, 🇨🇳’s growing regional clout, and 🇷🇺’s leverage over Kosovo pose key obstacles to 🇷🇸’s EU path. 🔗 shorturl.at/QmkT3

📢Your weekly reading is here! #GEOPOWEREU researcher A. Sofeska explores 🇲🇰&🇦🇱 on their path to the EU & NATO—tracking 🇷🇺's waning influence, 🇹🇷's growing outreach & 🇨🇳's investments using the Interdependence Database. 👉Read: shorturl.at/MAKn0 📊Explore: shorturl.at/jaN2H

📣REUNIR (@reunir.bsky.social) colleagues interviewed our coordinator Prof. @tzifakis.bsky.social on the sidelines of our joint 🇷🇸 conference! He spoke on the vital role of EU🇪🇺 support in the Western Balkans—and how its impact grows with reform, coordination & compliance. Watch 🔗 bit.ly/3HHXT2t

📢Last week, our project coordinator Prof. @tzifakis.bsky.social presented GEO-POWER on Greek Public TV #ERT3Social, outlining the goals of the #GEOPOWEREU project to strengthen the EU’s security policies in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans. 🔗 shorturl.at/qxsg9

📢 New blog alert! @branim.bsky.social (@wiiw.ac.at) dives into 🇨🇳 investment trends in 🇷🇸 and the wider Western Balkans using the #GEOPOWEREU database. 🔗 Article: shorturl.at/erwh1 📊Database: bit.ly/452UyEN

📢 On 20 May, Dr. @tenaprelec.bsky.social & Dr. @sonjasg.bsky.social presented at the 🇪🇺 Parliament Library, sharing insights from Indulging Kleptocracy and research from #GEOPOWEREU on corrosive capital. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/45O7iiP

New blog alert! Our @dpcglobal.bsky.social colleagues @valeryperry.bsky.social and @kurtbassuener.bsky.social explore 🇪🇺's underused leverage in 🇷🇸 & the Western Balkans in “Rethinking EU Strategy: Squandered Influence”, using #GEOPOWEREU database 🔗Article: bit.ly/453fR9e 📊Database: bit.ly/452UyEN

📉Trump’s trade war may hit the Western Balkans hard—not through direct tariffs, but via EU🇪🇺 slowdown. Branimir Jovanović (#GEOPOWEREU researcher & economist at WIIW) explains why this could be a black swan moment—and what governments must do now🔗 bit.ly/43HFREY

1/ Two days of timely discussions on EU #enlargement in the Western Balkans 🇷🇸🇲🇪🇲🇰🇦🇱🇽🇰🇧🇦 and Associated Trio countries 🇲🇩🇺🇦🇬🇪 — both at the high-level public conference and during consortium meetings of the GEO-POWER-EU Horizon Project, in which the @enc-europe.bsky.social is a proud partner.

📢On May 26–27, the GEO-POWER-EU consortium held two productive days in Belgrade. Here’s what happened 🧵 1/ A public conference was co-organized with @reunir.bsky.social on the EU’s role in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership. Full summary here: 🔗 shorturl.at/uBaHO

🚨New blog alert! Prof N. Džuverović @BelgradeUni analyzes Serbia's 🇷🇸foreign policy balancing act in a new piece published by European Western Balkans, drawing on data from the GEOPOWER EU database. 🔗Read the article: shorturl.at/538A4 📊Explore the database: shorturl.at/jaN2H

@srdjancvijic.bsky.social here at same event yesterday, making a similar point. bsky.app/profile/geop...

@geopower-eu.bsky.social Uni of Pelop., @unirijeka.bsky.social @enc-europe.bsky.social @idscs.bsky.social IDIS, Odesa National Uni @seerc.bsky.social UI @dpcglobal.bsky.social @jrnlregsec.bsky.social VE Insight, @wiiw.ac.at Uni of Bologna met in Belgrade to discuss #EU #enlargement #EaP & #defense

We are at the Europe House🇷🇸for our joint conference w/ @reunir.bsky.social! @filipejdus.bsky.social opened the event by noting 🇷🇸 is at a crossroads after 6+ months of political crisis, emphasizing that if #EU🇪🇺 enlargement struggles in the Union's immediate neighborhood, it may struggle elsewhere too

If the enlargement of #EU fails in its immediate neighbourhood, its actorness and influence in the world will be in the question. @filipejdus.bsky.social at the opening of @geopower-eu.bsky.social conference in Belgrade

Sonja presented research from our Horizon Europe project GEO-POWER-EU, focusing on corrosive capital and how foreign-funded deals exploit institutional weaknesses in the EU’s neighbourhood.

Tune in for the discussion on #EU #WesternBalkans #EaP #enlargement in a protesting Belgrade by @geopower-eu.bsky.social and @reunir.bsky.social 🔗 us06web.zoom.us/j/89551244365

The main obstacle to accession of #Serbia to the #EU is #statecapture. There has not been enough conditionality on fundamentals. Jelena Pejic @bezbednost.bsky.social and @reunir.bsky.social

#interdependence - how linked are #Albania #Bosnia #Kosovo #NorthMacedonia #Montenegro #Serbia #Georgia #Ukraine and #Moldova and the #EU, #Russia, #China #Turkey and the #US is shown in the database created by @geopower-eu.bsky.social consortium. Check it out at: geo-power.eu/research-out...

📢Don't miss this 🆕 book chapter by Dr Marko Kovačević (University of Belgrade & GEO-POWER-EU) & Dr Ana B. Fenko where they explore why security regionalization in the Western Balkans remains stalled. Find more ℹ️ here: shorturl.at/weSES #EU #WesternBalkans #enlargement

📢 For those who would like to join us online, you can participate in the event at the following link: 🔗 us06web.zoom.us/j/89551244365 Visit our website for more ℹ️ and in-person registration: 🔗 bit.ly/42Z3GZF #EU #WesternBalkans #EaP #enlargement

📢Secure your place! Join us May 26 in Belgrade 🇷🇸 for a high-level #GeoPowerEU & #REUNIR conference on the EU’s role in the Western Balkans & Eastern Partnership. 🕒15:30–19:00 |📍Europe House 🔗Registration bit.ly/42Z3GZF 💻Online participation—link coming soon!

📢 Join us on May 26 in Belgrade🇷🇸 for a high-level public conference co-hosted with our sister project @geopower-eu.bsky.social: “Frontlines of Influence: The EU’s🇪🇺 Role in the Western Balkans & Eastern Partnership” ⏰ 15:30-18:45📍 Europe House Registration🔗 bit.ly/42Z3GZF @horizoneu.bsky.social

📢 Reminder: Join us on 20 May at 12:30 CET at the European Parliament for the launch of Indulging Kleptocracy 📘 + expert panel addressing the urgent challenge of transnational #corruption and the #EU’s🇪🇺 role in tackling it. More info & registration 👉bit.ly/3S3xGxa

Full house - and a great discussion - at yesterday’s launch event of ThinkEurope in Ljubljana. I represented @cas-see-uniri.bsky.social bringing in some @geopower-eu.bsky.social research into the mix. Good luck to our friends Sabina Lange and Zoran Nechev with this new venture

📢Join us on May 26 in Belgrade🇷🇸 for a high-level public conference co-hosted with our sister project @reunir.bsky.social: “Frontlines of Influence: The EU’s🇪🇺 Role in the Western Balkans & Eastern Partnership” 📅 15:30–19:00 | 📍 Europe House Moreℹ️ & registration🔗http://bit.ly/42Z3GZF

Thank you @tepsa.bsky.social and the #InvigoratEU team for hosting such an insightful mid-term conference on "The Future of EU🇪🇺 Enlargement: Building a Stronger and Safer Europe." More ℹ️ on the conference: bit.ly/43e80mG and our participation: bit.ly/42Yz2zz #EU #geopolitics

🇪🇺 We were glad that #InvigoratEU sister projects, @reunir.bsky.social, @re-engage.bsky.social & @geopower-eu.bsky.social joined us at the mid-term conference this week👏 Find out more about the project ➡️ REUNIR🔗 reunir-horizon.eu re-ENGAGE🔗 re-engaging.eu GEO-POWER-EU🔗 geo-power.eu