The recent move by the Armenian government to bring its negotiations on free trade agreement with the EU to an abrupt end surprised many. But should it have really been that unexpected? Vladimir Sarkisyants says that, in retrospect, the possibility of signing a promising agreement with the EU when Russia was advancing its own regional … Continue reading
In this brief history of post-Soviet integration attempts, Giovanni Cadioli takes the Russian point of view, which has indeed been the main force behind the majority of attempts to reconnect the former Soviet Republics. He argues that after a number of disappointments, Russia finally seems to have found a way of integrating its own neighbourhood. … Continue reading
The news to 24 November 2013 Large protests in Kyiv over failure of EU-integration path. Unverified reports put numbers at 100,000. pic.twitter.com/UmYJl2AyMW — Vostok Cable (@VostokCable) November 24, 2013 Ukrainians protested in large numbers at the decision of the country’s government to suspend negotiations with the European Union over the signature of an Association Agreement. … Continue reading
Josh Black highlights a difference of interpretation between Western and Central European interpretations of the Eastern Partnership. The otherwise well-informed Standard Chartered economist Tim Ash contributed an interesting guest article to the Financial Times a few weeks ago, explaining for readers who are only casually acquainted with the negotiations between the European Union and Ukraine … Continue reading
Bulgaria has experienced two waves of protests in 2013. The first, between January and February, led to the resignation of the Borisov government and early elections. After the formation of an unconventional coalition government, new protests began in May and have grown in size. Now students are taking matters a step further. Borislav Gizdavkov, from … Continue reading
The news to 17 November 2013 Efforts by the EU to negotiate a settlement to the row over Yulia Tymoshenko’s imprisonment continued, as politicians emphasised the importance of Ukraine signing an Association Agreement at the Vilnius Summit in a week’s time. Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, said that Ukraine’s hopes of greater integration with Europe … Continue reading
Great Power politics has isolated ordinary citizens in Albania. Mass protests pushing the government to refuse Syrian chemical weapons have so far gained little attention. Sashenka Lleshaj comments on this new phenomenon. After Bashar al-Assad decided to ratify the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention and subsequent Security Council resolution 2118, which set 30 July 2014 … Continue reading
