Challenges of the European Union’s engagement in strategic conflict resolution in the Eastern Partnership region: The cases of Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46991/JOPS/2025.4.11.013Keywords:
European Union, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, diplomatic efforts, growing complexity, EaP countries, political landscapesAbstract
This article analyses the EU’s engagement in conflict resolution and peacebuilding in its Eastern Neighbourhood, which is undergoing political transformation. The article highlights that, initially focusing on diplomatic efforts and development assistance, the EU has gradually deepened its engagement in response to the increasing complexity of regional conflicts. In the Eastern Partnership countries, the EU has deployed a range of instruments, from political dialogue and economic sanctions to financial assistance and civilian missions, aimed at stabilising the region and promoting long-term peace. The effectiveness of such EU strategies varies in a number of ways, reflecting the diverse political landscapes and challenges faced by each EaP country. This article analyses three separate case studies to examine the EU’s conflict resolution and peacebuilding strategies. Each of these studies provides a nuanced understanding of EU conflict resolution and peacebuilding strategies in different geopolitical and conflict contexts. In this regard, Georgia’s significant involvement in European integration processes is highlighted, which underscores Georgia’s strategic importance for the EU in promoting democratic governance and regional stability. The article also examines the role of the EU in Georgia’s political and security sector reforms and conflict prevention. The article also examines the geopolitical dimensions of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the context of Armenia’s European integration processes and Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. The article analyzes the role of the EU in Ukraine, in particular, after the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s invasion in 2022, which shows a significant shift towards a more proactive and interventionist stance. A comparative analysis of the Ukrainian case provides an opportunity to gain insight into the EU’s strategies to stabilize the Eastern Partnership region, support state-building, and overcome the broader geopolitical consequences of the conflict.
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