Podcast Selection

Will the Western Balkans ever join the EU?

In 2003, the EU promised the Western Balkans that they would one day become members. More than two decades have passed, and they are still out. Why are they still waiting? And will that day…

Will Georgia’s presidential election test its EU ties? | Radio Schuman

On Saturday, the Georgian parliament will elect a new president, while EU leaders worry that the choice may signal further distancing from the EU. Today Radio Schuman dives into this weekend's presidential election in Georgia…

Why Georgia’s pivot toward Russia may backfire

Georgia’s parliament is set to elect the country’s next president on Saturday (14 December), a vote that could backfire for the ruling Dream Party as it has opted to back pro-Russian candidate Mikheil Kavelashvili. During…

EU must decide what it wants from Georgia, says ex-ambassador

The European Union must decide what it really wants from Georgia, former head of Georgian mission to the EU Natalie Sabanadze tells Radio Schuman. According to Sabanadze, currently a senior research fellow at the international…

How Putin’s grip on the east could influence EU’s Enlargement Package

Today, the European Commission unveils its 2024 Enlargement Package, a set of documents shaping Brussels' engagement with Eastern Europe. Last year's document introduced unprecedented policies, including a revamped accession process for the Western Balkans and…

Will Georgia be Brussels’ new nightmare? | Radio Schuman

Following recent elections in Georgia, EU High Representative Josep Borrell urged Georgian authorities to address reports of electoral irregularities and to undertake reforms. Brussels and Tbilisi are growing increasingly distant: the recent election victory of…

EU eyes Georgia amid election fraud allegations

Last weekend's parliamentary elections in Georgia have sparked significant controversy amid allegations of electoral manipulation before and during polling day. Key concerns include supposed vote-buying targeting vulnerable groups, misuse of administrative power, and possible tampering…

What an MP and EU observer saw happen in Georgia’s elections

Little consensus has emerged after Georgia's elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream declared themselves victors after gaining a majority. The opposition, bolstered by Western observers, claim the elections were unfair. On Saturday, Georgia held…

Moldova and Georgia: how domestic struggles threaten EU dreams

Moldova and Georgia are at a crossroads in their paths toward European integration. Just recently, Moldova held a constitutional referendum where voters expressed their desire to enshrine EU aspirations. The contest turned out to be…

Are Moldova and Georgia the next Ukraine?

On Monday, Moldovans narrowly voted in favour of continuing the country's path toward EU membership, with the "No" vote leading until the final moments. The country's president Maia Sandu condemned Russian interference and accused "criminal…

Georgia… the day after tomorrow

Will North Macedonia jeopardise its EU accession process?

North Macedonia, one of the six Western Balkans EU hopefuls, inched closer towards membership of the European Union after accession talks were launched in July 2020. But the country’s newly elected president, hailing from the…