Research

ENC Researchers Asuman Kubra Bas, Thomas Jacobs and Samuel Doveri Vesterbye Publish New Book Chapter on Mediatized Discourses in Belgium

ENC researchers have published a new book chapter on the representation of the EU and Europeanization in Belgian media, as part of the Mediatized EU project, funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.

The chapter appears in the newly released open access volume Mediatized Discourses on Europeanization and their Representations in European Public Spheres, published by Thomson Reuters Aranzadi. The book brings together case studies from seven countries — Belgium, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. The volume offers invaluable perspectives on the evolution of the media’s role in the process of Europeanization and how these dynamics resonate among the public, focusing on the elite–media–public triangle.

ENC’s Asuman Kubra Bas (Head of Projects & Research), Dr. Thomas Jacobs (Academic Council Member), and Samuel Doveri Vesterbye (Director) co-authored the chapter on Belgium. Their analysis reveals increasing securitization in EU-related media discourse—especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and migration—and highlights converging perspectives among elites across linguistic communities. Despite more reserved public attitudes, the chapter finds that general trust in EU institutions remains.

🔗 Read the book (Open Access): https://bit.ly/43OSiA9
🛒 Purchase print edition: https://bit.ly/4n2gsi4

We would like to sincerely acknowledge our colleagues who contributed to research, data collection, and project management throughout the four years of the Mediatized EU project, including Andreas Marazis, Dr. Tom Willaert, Maria Bevza, Katsyarina Vinnikiva, Lucia Lalikova, and many others.

Central Asia is Rising: Regional Integration, Border Resolution, and Strategic Autonomy

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released a new analysis on “Regional Integration, Border Resolution, and Strategic Autonomy.”

The article is written by Nazerke Mukhamediya, ENC Research and Communications Assistant and Independent Researcher and Dr. Aijan Sharshenova, ENC Academic Council Member and the Executive Director at Crossroads Central Asia.

Following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, Central Asia grappled with building statehood amid unresolved borders and weak infrastructure, hindering regional integration for decades. Today, however, the region shows renewed momentum for cooperation around shared goals like connectivity, water management, and global engagement. This ENC analysis examines recent milestones—including border agreements and regional forums like the C5+1—highlighting the potential for a new era of regionalism. Despite persistent challenges, the authors argue that deeper cooperation is key to Central Asia’s stability, prosperity, and growing role in the international arena.

The full analysis is available here.

France, Its Nuclear Deterrence and Europe: How to Help It Take the Leap

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released a new analysis on “France, Its Nuclear Deterrence, and Europe: How to Help It Take the Leap.”

The article is written by ENC Academic Council Member Florian Galleri, ENC Academic Council Member and a doctor at the University of Nantes.

France has long championed a stronger European defense, yet its nuclear deterrent remains outside collective frameworks. As the EU’s only nuclear power, France faces a key challenge: balancing its strategic autonomy with the need for European security cooperation. This ENC analysis explores the tensions between France’s nuclear independence and European solidarity, the skepticism surrounding nuclear deterrence in Europe, and the potential pathways for integrating France’s nuclear capabilities into a European security framework.

The full analysis is available here.

ENC Analysis

Perceptions of Elites on the European Union and Europeanization: The Belgian Case

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released its new analysis on “Perceptions of Elites on the European Union and Europeanization: The Belgian Case.”

The article is written by Asuman Kubra Bas, ENC Project Manager and Researcher and Prof. Thomas Jacobs, Professor at UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles and ENC Academic Council Member.

Belgium’s strong pro-European stance shapes its political and media debates, yet is far from being monolithic. Beyond the surface, key debates around migration, security, and economic solidarity reveal how Belgian elites interpret, negotiate, and contest European identity and values. This ENC analysis, drawing on interviews with actors from Belgium’s political and media spheres conducted MEDIATIZED EU – Mediatized Discourses on Europeanization and Their Representations in Public Perceptions Project*, demonstrates how Europe serves as a unifying yet contested idea, shaping public discourse and sparking new debates.

The full analysis is available here.

* The project was concluded in 2024 with the support from European Union’s H2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement no 101004534 – Mediatized EU – H2020 – SC6 – Transformations – 2020.

 Central Asia’s Battle with Water Scarcity: Government and International Interventions

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released its new analysis on “Central Asia’s Battle with Water Scarcity: Government and International Interventions“.

The article is authored by Bruce Pannier, a longtime journalist, ENC External Advisor, and Central Asia Fellow in Eurasia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

The full paper is available here.

 Russia-Ukraine War and Geopolitical Competition in the Black Sea Region

The European Neighborhood Council (ENC) released its new analysis on “Russia-Ukraine War and Geopolitical Competition in the Black Sea Region.”

The article is co-authored by Dr. Nika Chitadze (ENC Academic Council Member and Professor of the International Black Sea University, Tbilisi, Georgia), Dr. Victoria Vdovychenko (Associate Professor and Program Director of the Center for Defence Strategies) and Dr. Natalia Albu (Associate Professor of the Alexandru cel Bun Military Academy of Armed Forces of Republic of Moldova).

The full paper is available here.

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.

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.

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.