On 8 November 2024, REDEMOS partner ICDS in Tallinn hosted a critical discussion on democracy’s resilience in the face of contemporary geopolitical challenges. Experts and stakeholders from within and beyond the REDEMOS consortium gathered for the REDEMOS public stakeholders conference, titled “Can Democracy Withstand Geopolitics? The Impact of Great Power Competition in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood”. The event offered valuable insights into pressing regional issues, featuring contributions from academics, policymakers, and other practitioners.
The day commenced with introductory remarks by Dr Kristi Raik, Deputy Director and Head of the Foreign Policy Programme at ICDS, Tallinn, and Dr Mădălina Dobrescu, Principal Investigator of the REDEMOS project. They stressed the urgent need for a deeper understanding of how geopolitical tensions are influencing democratic stability in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood.
Keynote speech: The EU’s geopolitical compass
Luc Pierre Devigne, Deputy Managing Director at the European External Action Service (EEAS), delivered the keynote, offering an in-depth analysis of the current geopolitical dynamics. His address focused on the challenges posed by global geopolitical rivalry and the EU’s evolving role in supporting democratic resilience and stability in Eastern Europe. Mr Devigne highlighted the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s democratic reforms and its long-term integration while also navigating the broader geopolitical contestation in the region.
Panel I: What is left of Georgia’s European dream?
Moderated by Dr Steven Blockmans of CEPS and ICDS, the first panel explored Georgia’s ongoing struggle to sustain its European aspirations amidst domestic political and, more broadly, geopolitical challenges. Dr Ekaterine Metreveli (Rondeli Foundation), Ms Kai Kaarelson (ICDS), and Dr Julia Bader (University of Amsterdam) provided nuanced perspectives on the internal divisions and external pressures confronting Georgia. The panellists emphasised the importance of EU support for democratic reforms in Georgia and the broader Eastern Partnership countries.
Panel II: How to secure democracy and peace in Ukraine
The second panel centred on Ukraine’s dual pursuit of peace and democratic stability, moderated by Dr Igor Gretskiy (ICDS). Contributions from Dr Yuliya Bidenko (Karazin Kharkiv National University/Carnegie Europe), Mr Marko Mihkelson (Parliament of Estonia), and Ms Lavly Perling (Ethics Council of Ukraine) underscored the importance of international support. The discussion emphasised the importance of security assistance, political reforms, and the EU’s continued engagement in Ukraine’s democratisation process. The speakers also examined the broader implications for peace in the region and the role of international actors in facilitating or undermining stability.
Closing reflections
The conference concluded with reflections on the key themes of the day, reaffirming that collaboration between the EU and reform actors in its eastern neighbourhood is vital to counter authoritarian pressures and advance democratic principles. Delegates departed with a renewed commitment to upholding democratic values and fostering resilience in an increasingly polarised geopolitical environment.
Key statements
Speaking on the challenges of the region, Dr Kristi Raik reflected on the broader implications of geopolitics in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood: “It used to be common in the EU to reject geopolitics and build EU foreign policy on the promotion of norms and values, cooperation and multilateralism; to believe that Europe is about norms over force. The reality is, however, that Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine rages on for the third year, and the whole region of the EU’s eastern neighbourhood is profoundly affected by tightened geopolitical competition. The geopolitical struggle is a struggle about the future of European order; it also involves contestation of values and competition between democracy and authoritarianism. Supporting democracy in its eastern neighbourhood remains crucial for the EU, but the war in Ukraine has forced the EU to look for new ways to make a difference in the region”.
Reflecting on the EU’s role, Dr Mădălina Dobrescu stressed the challenging balance between governance and geopolitical priorities: “Against the background of a deteriorating security landscape in its eastern neighbourhood, the EU faces the unenviable task of addressing the twin challenges of countering violent conflict and instability, while at the same time continuing its vital support for democratic forces and reforms in these countries. This is a delicate and resource-intense balancing act between geopolitical and governance priorities, one that the EU must continue to maintain at all costs”.
This REDEMOS public stakeholders conference was an invaluable platform for dialogue, underlining the significance of collective efforts in safeguarding democracy across the EU’s eastern neighbourhood.