Between Pragmatism and Protests in the Eastern Partnership

Political instability is not limited to Europe’s immediate neighbourhood and also keeps the political scene preoccupied within the European Union. Whether it is a crisis over vaccine purchases in Slovakia and Czechia. the prospect of new lockdown measures in Poland or tense weeks before elections in Bulgaria, these events often have repercussions elsewhere and a discernible impact on the EU’s foreign policy plans. How active has the EU been helping the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries during the COVID-19 pandemic? Has it been vocal enough in support of democratic protests? Is Russia ‘back’ in the Eastern neighbourhood after its intervention in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the heavy promotion of its Sputnik V vaccines? Is Hungary’s bond with Azerbaijan emblematic of EU pragmatism instead of principles? In this week’s episode, we discuss recent news and also look back at what has changed for the EaP since the tenth anniversary in 2019 as part of the EaP2030 week organised in March. Blooming relations between Hungary and Azerbaijan: https://visegradinsight.eu/hungary-azerbaijan-blooming-relations-pragmatism/ Bulgaria’s upcoming parliamentary elections: https://visegradinsight.eu/bulgaria-challenge-cost-removing-gerb-elections/ Visegrad Insight weekly outlook: https://visegradinsight.eu/orban-wants-to-remould-the-eus-far-right/ Does the Eastern Partnership have a future? https://visegradinsight.eu/does-the-eastern-partnership-have-a-future/ #EU #EaP2030 #Russia #Bulgaria #Slovakia #Poland #Czechia #Hungary #Azerbaijan This episode is part of the Eastern European Futures (EaP2030)  project supported by the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. – Black Sea  Trust. Read our scenarios for the Eastern Partnership region: www.visegradinsight.eu/EaP2030/