Evident but implicit? Europarties’ role in geo-politicising EU enlargement and the 2022 Russian invasion in Ukraine

Transnational European political parties (or Europarties) are increasingly seen as key actors in EU external relations, particularly in Eastern Europe and the countries of the Western Balkans. This article examines how Europarties have responded to the EU’s so-called geopolitical awakening by assessing whether their approach to enlargement has changed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Focusing on salience, positioning and framing, it compares the 2019 and 2024 election manifestos of the Europarties officially recognised by the European Parliament. By systematically linking geo-politicisation, EU enlargement, and transnational party politics for the first time, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of how external geopolitical shocks are reflected in the behaviour of a key political actor operating at the core of the EU’s political system.