The EU’s enlargement momentum, fueled by Russia’s war against Ukraine, is wearing off. To make political conditionality work, the union must prioritize securing buy-in from candidate countries’ elites and civil society.

Russia’s war on Ukraine is driving Georgia’s government toward closer alignment with Moscow and other illiberal states

Being pro-EU does not win politicians many votes in the Western Balkans and the Caucasus. There, Viktor Orbán’s version of an illiberal Europe appears to be the union’s top-rated political export.

As the EU accelerates the process of adding new member states, it also needs to rethink the relationship between enlargement and democracy. The union should develop a “Copenhagen plus” approach to encourage more comprehensive democratic reforms in candidate countries.

Georgia's foreign agent bill is a turning point for the state of democracy in the country and Tbilisi's relations with its partners.

Georgia's self-mobilised citizenry is resisting a ruling party that seems intent on staying in power at all costs.