The Eastern Partnership of the European Union. From Polish-Swedish Initiative to a Unified Approach Toward Eastern Neighbours: The Case of Ukraine

• Authors: Tomasz Stępniewski

Abstracts

EN

This paper examines the transformation of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) in light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the shifting geopolitical realities of Eastern Europe. Launched in 2009 to promote democratic reforms and closer EU integration among six eastern neighbours – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine – the EaP now faces a fundamental reassessment of its goals and relevance. Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership, formalised in 2022 and advanced by the decision to open accession talks in 2023, marks a turning point in the EU’s neighbourhood policy. The paper explores how the war has altered the security architecture of the region, exposed the EU’s strategic vulnerabilities, and forced a recalibration of its external engagement strategies. Ukraine’s path to EU membership, while symbolically significant, remains fraught with political, legal, and institutional challenges, particularly amid ongoing conflict. The study argues that the future of the EaP depends on its ability to adapt to these complex dynamics, evolving from a normative framework into a more pragmatic, security-oriented platform that reflects the urgent demands of the post-2022 European order. By focusing on Ukraine’s pivotal role, the paper highlights broader implications for EU enlargement, regional security, and the Union’s role as a global actor.

Keywords

EN

European Union; Eastern Partnership; Eastern Europe; Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine; Ukraine’s Security

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Warszawski. Centrum Europejskie
• Journal: Studia Europejskie-Studies in European Affairs
• Year: 2025
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 123-134

Dates

published

2025

Contributors

author

Tomasz Stępniewski

• The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland
• War Studies University, Poland

• https://orcid.org/0000000245815145

References

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Identifiers

DOI

10.33067/SE.2.2025.6

Biblioteka Nauki

63513950