Event Type: Discussion

Environmental security in the EaP countries: state of play, challenges and opportunities

Written by Maxence on 20/05/2025.

To register for this event, please fill in the form at the bottom of this page.

Introduction

In the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region, achieving environmental and climate resilience remains a challenge, further exacerbated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, whose consequences are impacting the whole region. The war caused enormous damage to the nature, polluted the air, water and soil, and led to increased greenhouse gas emissions. The war also influenced many aspects of ongoing reforms in the EaP countries, caused a slow down in the energy transition, and a further decline of environmental and climate priorities.

All EaP countries are facing significant climate change related threats. Forest fires induced by droughts, extreme precipitation, heat waves, and mudslides are becoming more common. Besides the climate change impact, the biodiversity loss, water quality and quantity decline, deforestation, and urban air pollution are major environmental security issues for the EaP countries. Nevertheless, environmental degradation is not being perceived by the EaP countries’ governments, local authorities, business and the public as immediate danger.

The event ‘How to involve Civil Society in promoting environmental security in the EaP?’ will focus on the main environment and security challenges in the EaP countries and highlights the extent to which energy and climate change challenges impact environmental security in the EaP region. 

At the event, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) will launch its thematic policy paper and create an occasion for dialogue between experts in the field of environment, climate and energy, and EU stakeholders.

We invite you to join the discussion on Monday 2 June 2025 between 15:00 – 16:30 CEST at the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Avenue de Cortenbergh 120, 1000 Brussels.

Please use the registration form at the bottom of this page to register and receive your invitation.

Programme

This programme is still being finalised. A final version will be sent to all registered guests closer to the date.

14.30 – 15.00	Registration and coffee
15.00 – 15.05	Welcome remarks Mr Martin Vane, Interim Director of the EaP CSF Secretariat
15.05 – 16.05	Panel debate Panellists: Ms Nataliya Andrusevych, EaP Coordinator of EaP CSF Working Group 3, Chair of the Governing Board of Resource and Analysis Center “Society and Environment” Ms Angela Bularga, Programme Officer (Environment), Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), European Commission Mr Matthew Griffiths, Senior Programme Manager, Green Growth and Global Relations Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development Representative from the European External Action Service, TBC Moderator: Ms Anastasia Murzanovska, WG3 focal point, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
16.05 – 16.30	Q&A Session
16.30 – 17.30	Networking reception

Additional resources

Download the Policy Paper Environmental security in the EaP countries: state of play, challenges and opportunities.

Advancing Economic and Digital Transformation in the Eastern Partnership Region

Written by Maxence on 05/05/2025.

This event is now closed.

Introduction

This event will mark the launch of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Working Group 2 latest policy paper, which explores the evolving role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in driving economic development and digital transformation in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region, Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Belarus.

The event aims to create a space for dialogue between policy experts, civil society representatives, and institutional stakeholders to reflect on the findings of the paper and to discuss practical strategies for enhancing CSO engagement in shaping economic and digital policy across the region.

The policy paper highlights the dual role CSOs play in fostering inclusive governance and transparency, while also empowering SMEs and communities to leverage digital tools. The document presents both challenges and opportunities for CSO engagement and identifies best practices that can be scaled across the region. The analysis is structured across two main thematic pillars, economic development and digital transformation, each accompanied by a set of forward-looking policy recommendations.

We invite you to join us for a discussion on Wednesday 21 May 2025 between 14:00 – 16:00 CEST at the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Avenue de Cortenbergh 120, 1000 Brussels.

Programme

This programme is still being finalised. A final version will be sent to all registered guests closer to the date.

14.00 – 14.10	Welcome remarks Mr Martin Vane, Interim Director, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Ms Nino Elizbarashvili, Coordinator of the Working Group II, Georgian Association “Women in Business”
14.10 – 15.10	Panel debate Ms Haykuhi Harutyunyan, President, Protection of Rights Without Border, Author of the WG2 Policy Paper Mr Thibault Charlet, Programme Manager, Digital Transition and Economic Development, DG ENEST, European Commission Ms Svitlana Taran, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre Moderator: Ms Yana Brovdiy, Advocacy and EaP Index Manager, WG2 focal point, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
15.10 – 16.00	Q&A session

Additional Resources

Policy Paper Download

How can civil society be reinforced to help build resilient democracies in the Eastern Partnership?

Written by Maxence on 28/04/2025.

This event is now closed.

Introduction

How can civil societies’ capacities be strengthened to build resilient democracies in the Eastern Partnership and in the European Union?

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum invites you for a discussion on the role of non-formal/informal education and empowerment of marginalised groups. We will discuss how media literacy can be leveraged to combat mis/disinformation and the role that lifelong learning can play in reaching sustainable development and digital transformation goals.

We will also investigate how to establish new ways of communicating between the EU and EaP to enhance regional cooperation and ensure the participation of civil society in decision-making and in countering anti-democratic and autocratic tendencies.

This event will take place on Tuesday 13 May, 10:00-12:00 CET at the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Avenue de Cortenbergh 120, 1000 Brussels.

Agenda

09:30 – 10:00	Welcome breakfast and registration
10:00 – 10:05	Welcome remarks Mr Martin Vane, Interim Director, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF)
10:05 – 11:20	Panel debate Ms. Nino Jibuti, Policy Paper Author Ms. Lena Karlsson, Expert and advisor on Gender Equality, Regional Strategy & Investments, Directorate General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), European Commission Mr. Marinko Raos, International Relations Officer, Enlargement, Eastern Partnership, European Committee of the Regions Moderator: Mr. Pascal Willaumez, Working Group 4 Focal Point, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
11:20 – 12:00	Q&A session

Additional resources

Read or download the EaP CSF policy paper “Resilient democracies in the EaP and the EU: Strengthening Civil Societies’ Capacities“.

Advancing democratisation: what role can civil society play in national reforms and EU integration

Written by Maxence on 28/04/2025.

To register, please see the registration form at the bottom of the page.

Introduction

Since the launch of the Eastern Partnership post-2020 agenda, the region has undergone profound transformations, shaped by geopolitical shifts, internal political crises, and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine—which has arguably led to a multi-tiered Eastern Partnership. The EU’s engagement has evolved in response, balancing support for democratic reforms with the realities of political instability, economic hardship, and growing security threats. However, implementation gaps remain.

The Eastern Partnership policy plays a vital role in providing safeguards in times of democratic backsliding, increasing authoritarianisms and democracy deficiencies, and remains the only channel for civil society to maintain dialogue within the EaP countries and with the European Union.

Continuing investing in effective rule of law and democratic institutions is the only way not only to maintain the investments of the past but also, and most importantly, to secure long-term, sustainable change. Civil society acts as a driving force for democratic reforms and as a constant interlocutor, a platform for stakeholder communication within the Eastern Partnership countries and with the EU. However, shrinking civic spaces, growing state repression against civic activists, media and civil society, and the absence of structured participation mechanisms undermine its effectiveness. The halt of the US funding is further impacting civil society’s capacity to operate and remain relevant.

The event will focus on the main challenges faced by civil society in participating in decision-making processes on national reforms on the rule of law in the Eastern Partnership countries and explores best practices to strengthen its influence while also addressing regional dynamics and shared challenges.

We invite you to join us for a discussion on Wednesday 14 May 2025 between 11:30 – 13:00 CEST at the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Avenue de Cortenbergh 120, 1000 Brussels.

Agenda

11.30 – 11.35	Welcome remarks Mr Lasha Tugushi, Co-Chair, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
11.35 – 12.35	Speakers Ms Anastasia Pociumban, Research Fellow at German Council on Foreign Relations, Author of the paper ‘Advancing democratisation in the Eastern Partnership countries: the role of civil society in national reforms, and European integration’ Ms Radica Nusdorfer, Team Leader for Good Governance and Inclusive Society, Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), European Commission Ms Paloma Hall Caballero, Team Leader, Eastern Partnership and Regional Cooperation, Directorate for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, European External Action Service Ms Maria Piechowska, Ukraine Analyst, The Polish Institute of International Affairs Moderator: Mr Andrea Raimondi, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
12.35 – 12.55	Q&A session
12.55 – 13.00	Conclusions Ms Anh Helge, EU Coordinator of EaP CSF Working Group 1, Coordinator of the Swedish Network for the Eastern Partnership, ForumCiv
13:00 – 13:30	Networking lunch

Enhancing social dialogue for social justice and decent work policies across the EaP

Written by Maxence on 15/04/2025.

This event is now closed.

How can social dialogue be enhanced to implement social justice and decent work policies across the Eastern Partnership countries?

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum is pleased to publish its Working Group 5 policy paper examining how social partners and civil society can play a more active and meaningful role in strengthening social dialogue across Eastern Partnership countries.

The paper specifically explores the mechanisms through which civil society organisations can contribute to the formulation and implementation of social justice and decent work policies. It focuses on identifying concrete actions that can be taken to enhance participation of EaP social partners and civil society in social dialogue processes, while considering the unique political, economic, and social contexts of different EaP countries.

We invite you to read the policy paper (see link below) and join us for the launch event by filling in the form below.

This event will take place on Tuesday 6 May 2025 between 14:00 – 16:00 CEST at the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Avenue de Cortenbergh 120, 1000 Brussels.

Detailed programme

This event is upon registration only, see the form below. It will not be livestreamed. Please note this event has a capacity of 30 guests. Seats will be attributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event will be held as a hybrid roundtable.

13:30 – 14:00	Registration
14:00 – 14:10	Welcome remarks Mr Martin Vane, Interim Director, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Ms Elen Manaseryan, EaP CSF Working Group 5 EaP Coordinator, President at Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia
14:10 – 15:10	Panel debate Panellists: Ms Mariami Paposhvili, Policy Paper Consultant Mr Dumitru Fornea, Co-chair of the EU-Moldova Civil Society Platform, European Economic and Social Committee Ms Goda Neverauskaite, Policy Advisor, European Trade Union Confederation Moderator: Mr Maxence Salendre, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
15:10 – 16:00	Q&A session

Additional resources

You can read or download the policy paper below.

EaP CSF Policy WG5 Final Download

Resisting Pressure: The Fight for Georgia’s Civil Society and Independent Media

Written by Maxence on 06/03/2025.

This event is now closed. You can read the event report on this link.

Georgian civil society remains mobilised against the government

For over a year now, Georgian civil society and independent media organisations have been facing increasing pressure from the ruling Georgian Dream party. Once regarded as a frontrunner in the Eastern Partnership Index, Georgia has not only lost the title in recent years but is also increasingly facing criticism for authoritarian tendencies.

Attempts by the authorities to consolidate power have led to the suppression of the opposition voices, persecution of critics, and a growing divide with Western partners.

Georgian people have been holding wide-spread street protests over the country’s democratic backsliding, which only intensified after the controversial parliamentary elections in October 2024. International observers have not recognised these elections as free and fair. The ruling party’s subsequent decision to suspend Georgia’s EU accession process until 2028 has further exacerbated the situation.

Police and legislative repression of demonstrators continues unabated

In response to mounting pressure to hold new parliamentary elections, the Georgian Dream party intensified crackdown on its critics, beating and arresting dozens of protesters, journalists, and opposition figures. CSOs are openly targeted by the ruling party officials; journalists have been physically attacked on the streets while covering the widespread daily demonstrations.

To further consolidate its power, Georgian Dream party officials have initiated a series of new laws that will further restrict the work of independent CSOs and media. The ruling party intends to adopt a more restrictive law to broaden the scope of the so-called ‘foreign agent law’, eliminate all state obligations to include civil society organisations in decision-making processes, ban foreign funding for media altogether, and establish standards for so called ‘media objectivity and journalistic ethics.’ In addition, the already introduced state-managed grant system for the civil sector can severely restrict the autonomy of civil society organisations, making it more challenging for them to operate without political interference.

As a result of the ruling party’s actions, Georgia’s EU accession process has frozen for the foreseeable future, and the Georgian Dream officials are increasingly hostile towards the country’s western partners, including the EU. The opposition and pro-western protesters fear that this leaves Georgia highly susceptible to Russian influence.

An event to discuss the situation

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum invites you for a discussion on Georgia’s current fight for civil society and independent media. The discussion aims to:

Discuss the peculiarities of Georgia’s democratic backsliding and increasing authoritarianism,
Exchange on the current situation on the ground and highlight the challenges faced by CSOs and independent media organisations; identify coping strategies,
Reflect on short- and long-term solutions and emphasise the expectations of Georgian civil society organisations from the EU and its Member States,
Discuss the current state of EU-Georgia relations and outline the necessary steps to resume the suspended EU accession process.

Detailed programme

This event is upon registration only, see the form below. It will not be livestreamed. Please note this event has a capacity of 50 guests. Seats will be attributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

9:30 – 10:00	Welcome coffee and registration
10:00 – 10:15	Welcome remarks Ms Tania Marocchi, Director, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Ms Laure Delcour, Associate Professor, Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris ; Mr Aron Buzogány, Associate Professor, BOKU University, Vienna
10:15 – 11:00	Panel debate Panellists: Mr Kornely Kakachia, Director, Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP), Professor of Political Science; Jean Monnet Chair at Tbilisi State University Ms Tamara Nutsubidze, Independent Journalist, Founder of Euroscope Georgia Mr Hubert Duhot, Deputy Head of Unit, Georgia, South Caucasus, East (ENEST.C.4), Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood, European Commission Mr Julien Bourtembourg, Deputy Head of Division, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (EURCA.EER.3), European External Action Service Moderator: Ms Anastasia Murzanovska, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
11:00 – 11:30	Q&A session

This event is organised as part of the INTEND research project (Civil Society’s Democratic Participation in the EU’s Neighbourhood, supported by the French National Research Agency, ANR-21-CE41-0025, and Austrian Science Fund).

Photo credit: Jelger Groeneveld, FlickR

Additional resources

You can read or download the event report below.

EaP CSF – Georgia Event report Download

“We can vote but we can’t choose”: Belarus’ 2025 illegitimate election [webinar]

Written by Maxence on 15/01/2025.

Last October 2024, Lukashenka announced anticipated presidential elections for January 26, 2025.

This illegitimate vote is expected to extend Lukashenka’s three-decade-long rule as he is seeking a seventh consecutive term in office after the 2020 fraudulent election, which was widely condemned by opposition groups and violently repressed by the government in a movement that continues unabated.

This online closed-door meeting will convene key stakeholders, policymakers, human rights advocates, and analysts to discuss the outcomes of the 2025 Belarusian presidential vote, its implications for Belarusian civil society, and the broader international response.

This event will take place on 27 January 2025, 14:00 – 15:30 CEST.

Registration for this event is now closed. You can read the EaP CSF statement on the sham election here.

Armenia in focus: Navigating the EaP, Regional Security and European Integration

Written by Maxence on 16/10/2024.

Introduction

This event is now closed. You can read the event report here.

The event aimed to create an occasion for dialogue amongst Armenian civil society representatives, the Armenian government and the EU Institutions. The discussion focused on how existing policy instruments and platforms, including the EU’s Eastern Partnership policy, could provide impetus to Armenia’s European aspirations as well as explore the vital role of civil society within these processes. 

Strengthening EU-Armenia relations amid an unstable geopolitical situation

Relations between the EU and Armenia have strengthened over the past few years. The adoption of the 2024 EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda and the implementation of the 2024-2027 Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia are concrete illustrations of this strong bond.

Ambitious cooperations priorities between the EU and Armenia now cover trade and energy diversification, infrastructure, economic and institutional resilience and support to the refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

This is crucial given the shifting geopolitics of the region. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the forced displacement of more than 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan’s military offensive have shown that the EaP region still needs to invest significant efforts to establish regional peace, security and sustainable democratic institutions

In Armenia, physical and hybrid threats in the form of foreign information manipulation, interference and cyber-attacks continue to undermine the security architecture of the country. If on the one hand, Armenia has frozen its CSTO membership and cooperated extensively with the EU to prevent circumventing sanctions, the country’s European aspirations are still navigating geopolitical challenges and economic dependencies.

Indeed, long established patterns of trade and energy dependence on Russia had an impact on Armenia’s resilience. In this regard, despite the existing agreements with the Eurasian Economic Union, significant steps have been taken to reduce dependencies and strengthen Armenia’s security resilience. 

Armenian civil society has a key role to play as a trusted partner and agent of change, promoting European values and sustainable democratic reform. Importantly, civil society has acted as a rich source of expertise on EU legislative and regulatory approximation, in particular in the area of democratic reforms, human rights, fight against corruption and the rule of law.  

Agenda

9.30 – 9.45 Welcome remarks

Ms Tania Marocchi, Director, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum 
H.E. Tigran Balayan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Kingdom of Belgium, Head of Mission of Armenia to the European Union 
Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Director, European Office of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

9.45 – 11. 15 Armenia’s European Horizon: Pathways to European Integration

What role does the EaP policy, and its multilateral track, play in fostering Armenia’s foreign policy alignment towards Europe? How can Armenia leverage the EaP to strengthen its economic, political, and social ties with the European Union? What challenges and opportunities does Armenia face in this integration process, and how can they be effectively addressed? How does Armenia balance its commitments to the EaP and deeper relation with the EU with its relationships with other regional powers, such as Russia and its involvement in the Eurasian Economic Union and CSTO?  

H.E. Tigran Balayan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Kingdom of Belgium, Head of Mission of Armenia to the European Union 
Ms Dorota Dlouchy-Suliga, Head of Division, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (EURCA.EER.3), European External Action Service
Ms Lousineh Hakobyan, Co–Chair of the EU–Armenia Civil Society Platform
Mr Pavel Havlicek, Research Fellow, Association for International Affairs (AMO)
Moderator: Mr Andrea Raimondi, Policy and Advocacy manager, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

11.15 – 11.30 Short break

11.30 – 13.00 Enhancing Human Security and Building Resilient Societies in Armenia 

How can civil society contribute to strengthening socio-economic resilience and enhancing human security in Armenia? What avenues for engagement should be used or established to strengthen ties between Armenian civil society, the EaP region, and the EU? 

Mr David Cullen, Deputy Director, Head of Unit, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination (NEAR.C.2), DG NEAR, European Commission
Ms Anna Skiba, Delegate for Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) of the Council of the EU, Permanent Representation of Poland to the European Union
Mr Edgar Khachatryan, National Facilitator, Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
Mr Simon Papuashvili, Programme Director, Eastern Europe and South Caucasus, International Partnership for Human Rights
Moderator: Mr Andrea Raimondi, Policy and Advocacy manager, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

13.00 – 13.05 Concluding remarks

Ms Tania Marocchi, Director, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

13.05 Networking lunch

This event was organised by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and took place under the series of events “30 in 2030?” of the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung European Office.

What future for Georgian civil society?

Written by Maxence on 08/10/2024.

This event is now closed.

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum invites you to a roundtable discussion on the future of Georgian civil society in the presence of civil society representatives. Free event but registration compulsory.