Transformation or isolation? EU policy towards its Eastern neighbours

How to reform the Eastern Partnership in order to adapt it not only to changing circumstances, but also to the needs and expectations of both sides?

Guests

Andrew Wilson – Senior Policy Fellow at ECFR and Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University College London 
Kristi Raik – Senior Research Fellow at the European Union Research programme at the Finnish institute of International Affairs 
Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz – Director of the Open Europe programme at the Stefan Batory Foundation

Chaired by

Piotr Buras – the Director of the ECFR Warsaw Office

Warsaw Office of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has the pleasure of inviting you to the public debate:

Transformation or isolation? EU policy towards its Eastern neighbours

November 23rd between 15:30 and 17:00 in Foksal Press Centre (ul. Foksal 3/5)

The upcoming fifth Eastern Partnership Summit provides an opportunity for a reform of the European Union’s eastern neighbourhood – a reform deeper than the member states are willing – or rather ready – to achieve. Despite the fact that, since 2008, the Eastern Partnership has been developing and adjusting to the emerging challenges through concrete initiatives for deepening of cooperation, member states still fall short of agreeing on its final goal. Should it be a priority for the European Union to transform its eastern neighbourhood, or rather to defend itself against the threats that emanate from it? Will this year's summit demonstrate a coherent vision of the EU’s ambitions towards its eastern neighbourhood and the means the member states are willing put toward it? How to reform the Eastern Partnership in order to adapt it not only to changing circumstances, but also to the needs and expectations of both sides?

The discussion will be based on the latest report by Andrew Wilson, “Partners for Life: Europe’s Unanswered “Eastern Question”’.

The debate will be held in Polish and English – simultaneous translation will be available.
Please confirm your participation by November 22nd via the registration form.