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Jun 19

ENC In-Depth Podcast: How the EU is Contributing to Countering Militant Islamist Activities in MENA

By ENC In-Depth, Podcast

ENC In-Depth Podcast: How the EU is Contributing to Countering Militant Islamist Activities in MENA

The in-depth discussion is dedicated to the recently published ENC Analysis “EU Counter-Terrorism Efforts & MENA Violent Extremism: Did the EU Help MENA Countries Enhance their Security?” by our Academic Council Member Dr. Ebtisam Hussein.

In her article, Dr. Ebtisam Hussein describes how the European Union has effectively contributed to inhibiting militant Islamist activities by implementing strategies that make it more difficult for militants to exploit the internet and initiating collaborative projects with MENA countries to combat violent extremism more effectively.

The discussion was moderated by Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, ENC Managing Director, and features the comments and insights of Dr. Ebtisam Hussein, ENC Academic Council Member and Associate Professor of Political Science at Cairo University.

Jun 08

New EU-funded Horizon project GEO-POWER-EU launched

By Projects

GEO-POWER-EU: Empowering the Geopolitical EU in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans

Starting in June 2024 and continuing for three years, a consortium of 14 partner institutions has embarked on the “GEO-POWER-EU: Empowering the Geopolitical EU in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans” project, funded by the European Union’s H2020 Research and Innovation programme.

In the wake of the war in Ukraine, the European Union has moved to enhance its geopolitical influence beyond its immediate borders, particularly in the Western Balkans (WB) and Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. This shift underscores an urgent need to bolster the EU’s strategic thinking and actions. Consequently, GEO-POWER-EU is based on the premise that the EU’s enlargement and Eastern neighbourhood policies require revision to reflect a new geopolitical vision for these regions.

The primary objective of the GEO-POWER-EU project is to enhance the security dimension of the EU’s policies in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans. The project aspires to develop a comprehensive EU strategy for these regions, taking into consideration foresight concerning the strategic ambitions of other geopolitical actors. GEO-POWER-EU will:

  • propose ideas for the adaptation of the EU Enlargement policy and the reform Eastern Partnership policy
  • assess the influence of other geopolitical actors and provide strategic foresight about the prospects of geopolitical competition in the two regions
  • explore the growth of the EU’s ability to contain military threats
  • propose a comprehensive and multidimensional EU strategy that will guide relations with the countries in the Western Balkans and the Eastern neighborhood.Duration of the project: 1 June 2024 – 31 May 2027

Project Partners

  • University of the Peloponnese, Greece (Project Coordinator)
  • Southeast European Research Center (SEERC), Greece
  • European Neighbourhood Council (ENC), Belgium
  • University of Bologna, Italy
  • The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW), Austria
  • University of Rijeka / Academy of Applied Arts of the University of Rijeka, Croatia
  • Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis, North Macedonia
  • University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • VE Insight, Austria
  • Democratization Policy Council (DPC), Germany
  • Institutul pentru Dezvoltare și Inițiative Sociale (IDIS) Viitorul, Moldova
  • Odesa Mechnikov National University, Ukraine
  • Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS), Georgia
  • Utrikespolitiska Institutet, Sweden

Contact

geo-power@go.uop.gr

If you want to know more about  GEO-POWER-EU, check for updates on the project’s social media: Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn Soundcloud  YouTube

The GEO-POWER-EU project is funded by the European Union under grant agreement ID 101132692. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

May 31

ENC Analysis – Soft Power Lessons from Russia’s War: How to Overcome Polarisation and Strengthen Liberal Democracy

By Publications, Research

Soft Power Lessons from Russia’s War: How to Overcome Polarisation and Strengthen Liberal Democracy

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released its new analysis titled “Soft Power Lessons from Russia’s War: How to Overcome Polarisation and Strengthen Liberal Democracy.”

The article is written by Dr. Leila Alieva, ENC Academic Council Member and an affiliate of Russian and East European Studies, Oxford University School for Global Arena Studies.

The international community has mainly focused on military actions in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. However, the war has revealed important insights that go beyond the battlefield, showing major weaknesses in soft power strategies. In fact, the war in Ukraine increased political and geographic divisions, highlighted the harmful effects of exclusion, shown that societies’ abilities to reform, and exposed the domination of neopatriarchy in contemporary politics. In this ENC Analysis, Dr. Leila Alieva discusses how addressing these issues through inclusive approaches can mitigate polarization and contribute to a more resilient and unified international order.

The full paper is available here.



May 20

ENC Analysis – EU Counter-Terrorism Efforts & MENA Violent Extremism: Did the EU help MENA Countries Enhance their Security?

By Publications, Research

EU Counter-Terrorism Efforts & MENA Violent Extremism: Did the EU Help MENA Countries Enhance their Security?

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released its new analysis on “EU Counter-Terrorism Efforts & MENA Violent Extremism: Did the EU Help MENA Countries Enhance their Security?”

The article is written by Dr. Ebtisam Hussein, ENC Academic Council Member and Associate Professor of Political Science at Cairo University.

In recent years, there has been a significant transformation in the landscape of terrorism within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Once known for being a focal point of militant Islamist groups and their activities, the region is now witnessing a decline in terrorism incidents. One contributing factor to this decline is the proactive approach taken by the European Union to counter terrorism in the region. In this ENC Analysis, Dr. Hussein elaborates on how the EU has effectively contributed to inhibiting militant Islamist activities by implementing measures that make it more challenging for militants to exploit the internet, while also initiating collaborative projects aimed at coordinating efforts with MENA countries to combat violent extremism effectively.

The full paper is available here.

May 20

ENC In-Depth Podcast: EU-Türkiye Relations in the Context of Transport, Trade, and Connectivity

By ENC In-Depth

ENC In-Depth Podcast: EU-Türkiye Relations in the Context of Transport, Trade, and Connectivity

The in-depth discussion is dedicated to EU-Türkiye transport and trade relations from various perspectives, including geo-economics, connectivity, and the challenges and opportunities in transportation and trade relations. The debate is part of the ENC in-depth podcast discussions with experts assessing the developments in Türkiye and the EU.

The discussion was moderated by Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, ENC Director, and features the comments and insights of Can Baydarol, Vice President of The European Union and Global Research Association (ABKAD), and Alper Özel, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Transporters Association.

Apr 12

ENC Analysis – International Relations amidst Disasters: Turkish-Greek Perceptions and Emotion Discourses in 1999 and 2023 Earthquakes

By Publications, Research

ENC Analysis – International Relations amidst Disasters: Turkish-Greek Perceptions and Emotion Discourses in 1999 and 2023 Earthquakes

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released its new analysis on “Turkish-Greek Perceptions and Emotion Discourses in 1999 and 2023 Earthquakes”.

The article is written by Dr. Özlem Kayhan Pusane, Professor at the Department of International Relations at Işık University, and Dr. Aslı Ilgıt, ENC Academic Council Member and Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Cukurova University.

The concept of disaster diplomacy sheds light on how natural disasters can influence international relations. One of the examples studied in disaster diplomacy scholarship, the 1999 earthquakes in Turkey and Greece, sparked diplomatic engagement between the two nations, highlighting the growing recognition of disasters’ role in shaping global diplomacy. In this ENC analysis, the authors delve into the crucial role of emotions in shaping international relations post-disaster, focusing on Greek-Turkish relations in both the earthquakes of 1999 and 2023.

The full paper is available here.

Mar 04

CLOSING EVENT: Forum of the “Sanarip Insan” project on the promotion of equal economic opportunities and sustainability of youth and women

By Events, Projects

CLOSING EVENT

Forum of the “Sanarip Insan” project on the promotion of equal economic opportunities and sustainability of youth and women

 

Date: March 4, 2024

Time: 12.00 – 17.30 KGT

Location: Bishkek, Manasa str., 16 Novotel Bishkek City Center

The agenda of the event can be found here.

On March 4, 2024, the Kyrgyz Internet Society will host the forum “Promoting equal economic opportunities and sustainability of youth and women” where the EU-funded “Sanarip Insan” project will sum up its results. Project managers, startup beneficiaries, training beneficiaries, journalists, and project implementers, represented by representatives of government, development institutions, business and educational structures will summarize the results of the project, discuss the tangible effects of digitalization of education for the population, problems, and opportunities for involving all stakeholders in the implementation of the project. Guests will also be able to see an exhibition of project beneficiaries and startup competition winners.

The Sanarip Insan project is is being implemented by the European Neighbourhood Council together with the Kyrgyz Internet Society with financial support from the European Union. The main components of the project are the development of digital skills capacity among youth, young migrants and women, from basic digital literacy to more in-demand digital skills such as information search, use of digital platforms, social media functionality, financial transactions, online commerce and advanced entrepreneurial skills with using information technology.

Over two and a half years, the project has helped thousands of citizens improve their digital skills, thereby increasing their economic well-being. The project’s activities have led to improved indicators of youth resilience to the Sustainable Development Goals and the protection of human rights and contributed to inclusive economic growth in rural areas of Kyrgyzstan, which will have a positive impact on the country’s digital economy.

During this 30-month project, 500 individuals and youth attended two-day courses on digital tourism and e-commerce in seven regions of Kyrgyzstan; 356 new jobs were created (11 times more than planned). The Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (MISTT) is published in Russian and Kyrgyz with the support of the GSMA Foundation, which helps enhance digital literacy among the population. Videos about the benefits of using digital platforms are broadcast on national and regional television channels, reaching a total audience of 4 million people. About 100 videos and the same number of presentation materials on Microsoft Digital Literacy are available for teachers in the Kyrgyz language to improve computer literacy. The Python programming language is now available to every citizen of Kyrgyzstan in the Kyrgyz language. Ten digital startups from all regions of the country received support with a total prize fund of 2.7 million soms, creating 255 jobs through startup acceleration and financing.

Feb 29

ENC Analysis – Film Festivals and Cities: A View for south-eastern Europe

By Publications, Research

ENC Analysis – Film Festivals and Cities: A View for south-eastern Europe

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released its new analysis on “Film Festivals and Cities: A View for south-eastern Europe.”

The article is written by Dr. Eleni Sideri, ENC Academic Council Member and Assistant Professor at the Department of Balkan, Slavic & Oriental Studies of the University of Macedonia.

The paper examines the growth of the creative economy in the urban context and analyses how film festivals in the European periphery, in southeastern Europe, played a role in the transformation of three cities, Thessaloniki, Sarajevo, and Tbilisi, into regional film centers.

The full paper is available here.

 

Feb 05

Central Asia Ambassadors and experts discussed the future of EU-Central Asia relations right after the Investors Forum in Brussels

By Events

Central Asia Ambassadors and experts discussed the future of EU-Central Asia relations right after the Investors Forum in Brussels

The European Neighbourhood Council (ENC), together with the Europe-Uzbekistan Association for Economic Cooperation (EUROUZ) co-organized an event titled “Central Asia Economic Roundtable: Looking into the Future of Cooperation with the European Union” on 2nd of February 2024, hosted by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Brussels.

The first panel titled “Central Asia: A Rising Investment Destination – Insights from the Inaugural EU-Central Asa Investors Forum” hosted Central Asia Ambassadors, namely, H.E. Gairat Fozilov (Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Belgium, Head of Mission the European Union), H.E. Baimukhan Margulan (Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium, Head of Mission the European Union), H.E. Muzaffar Huseinzoda (Ambassador of Tajikistan to Belgium, Head of Mission the European Union) and H.E. Sapar Palvanov (Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium, Head of Mission the European Union) and was modarated by Oybek Shaykhov, Secretary General of the EUROUZ. During their remarks, the Ambassadors emphasized that the European Union and Central Asia are committed to improving connectivity and cooperation in several fields such as renewable energy, transportation, critical raw materials, and more.

The second session, moderated by ENC Director Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, focused on the Middle Corridor and Central Asia’s role in the framework of EU global engagement, business, and human development. Eminent speakers included Camilla Brückner, the director of the UNDP Brussels Representation Office; Dmitry Mariyasin, the deputy executive secretary at the UN Economic Commission for Europe; Emmanuel Dupuy, the president of the Institut Prospective et Securité en Europe, or IPSE; and Katarzyna Wawiernia, the resident representative of the UN Development Program in Kazakhstan. The speakers offered insightful information on a variety of topics, including the significance of a systematic EU approach, the integration of smart regulation and digitalization with infrastructure development, France’s role in the Global Gateway, the utilization of digital solutions in the new Eurasia SDG platform, and the promotion of sustainable maritime sector development in the Caspian Sea through partnerships with both domestic and foreign partners.

The panels were followed by a very engaging Q&A session. The questions spanning from the distinction between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Global Gateway to the EU’s foreign policy regarding Central Asia were posed by the guests who are experts, think tankers, EU officials, academics and representatives of other important organizations.

You can watch the event below:

Jan 26

ENC Analysis – Global Gateway and Investors Forum: What it means for Central Asia and geo-economics?

By Publications, Research

ENC Analysis – Global Gateway and Investors Forum: What it means for Central Asia and geo-economics?

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released a new analysis titled “Global Gateway and Investors Forum: What it means for Central Asia and geo-economics?”

This article is written by our managing director Samuel Doveri Vesterbye.

In this ENC analysis, Mr. Vesterbye looks at Global Gateway, the EU’s largest infrastructure and foreign investment initiative, and what to expect from next week’s Investors Forum and its importance for Central Asia. He also examines the existing Global Gateway projects and explains why the initiative should be assessed within a geoeconomic context, given the current global issues.

The full analysis is available here.

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