Central & Eastern Europe Archives - ICDS

French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a joint press conference, in Moscow, Russia on February 7, 2022.

What Went Wrong with Macron’s Diplomacy vis à vis Russia?

In recent weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a leading role in European diplomatic efforts to get the Russia-Ukraine conflict back from the brink of a major war. He deserves credit for his efforts to de-escalate tensions and strengthen Europe’s role in discussions over European security. However, his activity has met with a considerable degree of suspicion especially in Central and Eastern European countries, at least partly for legitimate reasons. This analysis examines three sets of explanations for this suspicion.

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Commentary

How France-Russia Relations Could Affect the Security of the Baltic Sea Region

President of France, Emmanuel Macron, whose country is currently holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, does not want the EU to be relegated to the background behind NATO and the US. He wishes to demonstrate his ability to oppose Russia while also maintaining dialogue with Moscow.

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Commentary

Russia Continues to Expand Its Influence in the Black Sea and the Balkans

The tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border have somewhat eased. However, both experts and officials note that it’s too early to say that a new hot phase of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has been avoided. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to build up its presence in the Black Sea and is trying to influence the political processes in neighbouring states.

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Commentary

From Defensive Outpost to Springboard?

The consequences for the Intermarium region of Russia’s (hypothetical) absorption of Belarus.

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Commentary

The Three Seas Virtual Summit: All Icing, No Cake

On Monday 19 October, Estonia hosted the Three Seas Virtual Summit, marking the end of Estonia’s presidency of the initiative and handing over the reins to Bulgaria.

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Commentary

17+1 Cooperation Is Turning Sour: Shared Concerns Over China Can Help Repair the Transatlantic Relationship

Europe and the US have a number of common concerns caused by the rise of China that could help to repair transatlantic relations. Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries should invest in strengthening the EU’s unity and transatlantic cooperation vis-à-vis China rather than the 17+1 format.

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Commentary

Mikheil Saakashvili’s Political Comeback in Ukraine

On 7 May, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky appointed former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili as head of the Executive Committee of Ukraine’s National Reform Council.

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Commentary

The Challenge of Distinguishing Own From Alien

For the Baltic states and Ukraine, national resilience, among other things, means rejecting (but not forgetting!) the Soviet heritage as utterly alien, retrograde and mind-intoxicating one.

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Commentary

Traian Băsescu: Russia is a Clear Threat to All Black Sea States

Romania gets along well with Turkey and is trying to fight the spread of Russian propaganda in Moldova.

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Commentary

The Martian View of Europe, liberalism, Hungary

If the Martians had a university where there was a department of European studies, they would be scratching their heads in a thoroughly perplexed fashion. Here is Europe facing its most serious crisis in a hundred years, Covid-19, one that is transforming society, the economy and much else, yet in the midst of it, the Hungary issue erupts yet again as a major source of political argument.

Central & Eastern Europe

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