The EU’s Perception of Competing External Actors in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighborhood

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F48546054%3A_____%2F24%3AN0000060" target="_blank" >RIV/48546054:_____/24:N0000060 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://re-engaging.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/D4.2-Re-engage-policy-paper_perception-of-external-actors_AM.pdf" target="_blank" >https://re-engaging.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/D4.2-Re-engage-policy-paper_perception-of-external-actors_AM.pdf</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

The EU’s Perception of Competing External Actors in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighborhood

Original language description

Almost three years into the war in Ukraine, the EU enlargement remains central to the EU’s efforts for resilience and stability in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood. In a fast-changing geopolitical situation, the EU’s threat perception of external actors depends on their behavior regarding the EU integration of these regions. Russia uses disruption tactics to destabilize and obstruct EU integration efforts by exploiting local political dynamics. China, on the other hand, seeks to create long-term dependencies through development models, offering alternatives to EU integration. The EU recognizes these influences but perceives China as a lesser immediate threat than Russia. This report (for Horizon 101132314 RE-ENGAGE) reviews the attitudes of EU officials regarding competing external actors with a focus on Russia and China. It argues that the choice of ‘multi-vector’ foreign policy made by some candidate states will continue to be a challenge for the EU integration. The EU accession process seeks to address key vulnerabilities such as corruption and weakened rule of law based on the assumption that this will make society more resilient to external threats. Yet local countries have an agency over the foreign policy partnerships they choose. The EU’s countering efforts can only be effective if local governments choose to cooperate in connection with their shared geopolitical values.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

V_souhrn - Summary research report

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

50601 - Political science

Project

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Continuities

R - Projekt Ramcoveho programu EK

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Number of pages

40

Place of publication

neuveden

Publisher/client name

Evropská komise

Version

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