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

The baseline study, produced under the GEO-POWER-EU Project, 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. *The GEO-POWER-EU project is funded by the European Union under grant agreement ID 101132692. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.