Periodic Reporting for period 1 - InvigoratEU (Invigorating Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy for a Resilient Europe)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-01-01 bis 2024-12-31
“HOW CAN THE EU INVIGORATE ITS ENLARGEMENT AND NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY TO ENHANCE EUROPE’S
RESILIENCE?”. InvigoratEU aims at finding answers to this question by pursuing three overarching goals: Our first goal is (1) to
investigate HOW TO REFORM the EU’s enlargement strategy in a new geopolitical phase, HOW TO RESPOND to other actors’
geopolitical ambitions in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans, and HOW TO REBUILD the EU’s foreign policy arsenal
in view of a new era of military threats (triple “R” approach) combining the modernisation and geopolitical logics of EU enlargement,
leading to new data – e.g. a public opinion survey in Ukraine, a set of scenarios, an external influence index (Russia, China, Turkey),
and a social policy compliance and cohesion scoreboard. Our second goal is (2) to elaborate an EVIDENCE-BASED, FORWARDLOOKING
VISION FOR THE EU’s POLITICAL AGENDA AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR CO-DESIGNING A
MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOOLBOX (i.e. two tailor-made toolkits), together with InvigoratEU´s Expert Hub, Civil Society (CS)
Network, Youth Labs, Workshops for Young Professionals and Policy Debates in a gaming set up, which will result in context-sensitive
and actionable policy recommendations for European and national political stakeholders and (young) European citizens in particular. Our
third goal is (3) to deploy a CDE (communication, dissemination and exploitation) strategy AIMING AT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
DAY 1 to maximize our scientific, policy and societal impact in invigorating the EU´s enlargement and neighbourhood policies to enhance
Europe´s resilience. ULTIMATELY, INVIGORATEU IS A DELIBERATELY LARGE CONSORTIUM respecting THE DIVERSITY
OF EUROPE and POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES; 7 out of 18 are from GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, UKRAINE, and the Western Balkans
(NORTH MACEDONIA, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA), COMPLEMENTED BY our CS Network of 9 representatives from all Western
Balkan countries, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
RESILIENCE?”. InvigoratEU aims at finding answers to this question by pursuing three overarching goals: Our first goal is (1) to
investigate HOW TO REFORM the EU’s enlargement strategy in a new geopolitical phase, HOW TO RESPOND to other actors’
geopolitical ambitions in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans, and HOW TO REBUILD the EU’s foreign policy arsenal
in view of a new era of military threats (triple “R” approach) combining the modernisation and geopolitical logics of EU enlargement,
leading to new data – e.g. a public opinion survey in Ukraine, a set of scenarios, an external influence index (Russia, China, Turkey),
and a social policy compliance and cohesion scoreboard. Our second goal is (2) to elaborate an EVIDENCE-BASED, FORWARDLOOKING
VISION FOR THE EU’s POLITICAL AGENDA AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR CO-DESIGNING A
MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOOLBOX (i.e. two tailor-made toolkits), together with InvigoratEU´s Expert Hub, Civil Society (CS)
Network, Youth Labs, Workshops for Young Professionals and Policy Debates in a gaming set up, which will result in context-sensitive
and actionable policy recommendations for European and national political stakeholders and (young) European citizens in particular. Our
third goal is (3) to deploy a CDE (communication, dissemination and exploitation) strategy AIMING AT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
DAY 1 to maximize our scientific, policy and societal impact in invigorating the EU´s enlargement and neighbourhood policies to enhance
Europe´s resilience. ULTIMATELY, INVIGORATEU IS A DELIBERATELY LARGE CONSORTIUM respecting THE DIVERSITY
OF EUROPE and POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES; 7 out of 18 are from GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, UKRAINE, and the Western Balkans
(NORTH MACEDONIA, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA), COMPLEMENTED BY our CS Network of 9 representatives from all Western
Balkan countries, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
During the first phase of the invigoratEU project, we focused on developing the conceptual framework (Work Block I), which serves as the foundation for the analyses in Work Block II (WP 4–8) and the visioning and foresight process in Work Block III (WP 9–10).
In work block I, we established clear and precise definitions, terminology, concepts, and benchmarks, providing a key reference document for invigoratEU research. The Triple-R Approach (Reforming, Responding, Rebuilding) serves as the guiding framework for assessing the challenges and opportunities within the EU’s enlargement and neighborhood policies. These policies were analyzed in terms of their contributions to democratic consolidation, conflict prevention, capacity-building, security enhancement, protection against hybrid threats, and fostering connectivity and sustainable social and economic development. Additionally, we conducted an in-depth assessment of the European Union’s enlargement and neighborhood policy, examining its existing tools, objectives, and the necessary reforms. This analysis aims to inform future policy development to strengthen the EU’s resilience, particularly in light of evolving geopolitical dynamics and the ongoing integration challenges in the Eastern Neighborhood and Western Balkans. Based on our findings, we formulated initial recommendations to reinvigorate the EU enlargement strategy and contribute to a more united and prosperous Europe. Key aspects include strengthening conditionality mechanisms, enhancing civil society engagement, addressing regional disparities, promoting public participation, and adopting a differentiated integration model. These measures aim to refine the EU’s approach, ensuring a more effective and inclusive enlargement process.
For work block II, we laid the foundation for assessing democratization processes in conflict and post-conflict contexts in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. It examines international, regional, state, and societal factors influencing these processes and evaluates the supportive or hindering effects of EU enlargement and neighborhood policy. We also began analyzing the effects and potential of deepened market integration and cross-border movements, as well as assessing the geopolitical ambitions of China, Turkey, and Russia in the candidate countries of Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, in line with invigoratEU’s geopolitical framework. Additionally, we initiated an analysis of the EU’s current arrangements and instruments for ensuring security within and beyond its neighborhood, with concrete policy recommendations to be developed in the second reporting period.
In work block I, we established clear and precise definitions, terminology, concepts, and benchmarks, providing a key reference document for invigoratEU research. The Triple-R Approach (Reforming, Responding, Rebuilding) serves as the guiding framework for assessing the challenges and opportunities within the EU’s enlargement and neighborhood policies. These policies were analyzed in terms of their contributions to democratic consolidation, conflict prevention, capacity-building, security enhancement, protection against hybrid threats, and fostering connectivity and sustainable social and economic development. Additionally, we conducted an in-depth assessment of the European Union’s enlargement and neighborhood policy, examining its existing tools, objectives, and the necessary reforms. This analysis aims to inform future policy development to strengthen the EU’s resilience, particularly in light of evolving geopolitical dynamics and the ongoing integration challenges in the Eastern Neighborhood and Western Balkans. Based on our findings, we formulated initial recommendations to reinvigorate the EU enlargement strategy and contribute to a more united and prosperous Europe. Key aspects include strengthening conditionality mechanisms, enhancing civil society engagement, addressing regional disparities, promoting public participation, and adopting a differentiated integration model. These measures aim to refine the EU’s approach, ensuring a more effective and inclusive enlargement process.
For work block II, we laid the foundation for assessing democratization processes in conflict and post-conflict contexts in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. It examines international, regional, state, and societal factors influencing these processes and evaluates the supportive or hindering effects of EU enlargement and neighborhood policy. We also began analyzing the effects and potential of deepened market integration and cross-border movements, as well as assessing the geopolitical ambitions of China, Turkey, and Russia in the candidate countries of Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, in line with invigoratEU’s geopolitical framework. Additionally, we initiated an analysis of the EU’s current arrangements and instruments for ensuring security within and beyond its neighborhood, with concrete policy recommendations to be developed in the second reporting period.
InvigoratEU brings together European and national policymakers, civil society, and researchers to develop forward-looking strategies for the EU’s enlargement and neighborhood policy. At its core is the Triple-R Approach (Reforming, Responding, Rebuilding), aimed at fostering democratic consolidation, security, and sustainable economic development in the Eastern Neighborhood and Western Balkans. InvigoratEU connects policymakers, civil society, and researchers to develop strategies for strengthening EU enlargement and neighborhood policies. The policy community is actively involved through the InvigoratEU Expert Hub, which includes 41 EU and national policymakers. Initial closed-door meetings have taken place. Civil society and young professionals participate through the Civil Society Network (CSN), which includes nine members from the target regions, as well as through Youth Labs and workshops. Outreach efforts also focus on teachers, students, and young professionals. The research community benefits from conferences, joint publications, and collaborations with international academic networks. Public debates and webinars ensure broad dissemination of research findings. InvigoratEU fosters interactive, practice-oriented collaboration to shape the future of EU enlargement and neighborhood policy.