• Research
  • Politika
  • About
Carnegie Russia Eurasia center logoCarnegie lettermark logo
  • Donate
{
  "authors": [
    "Olga Shumylo-Tapiola",
    "Lucia Najšlová",
    "Věra Řiháčková"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Carnegie Europe"
  ],
  "collections": [
    "Europe’s Eastern Neighborhood"
  ],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Europe",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Europe",
    "Eastern Europe",
    "Ukraine",
    "Western Europe",
    "Belarus",
    "Moldova"
  ],
  "topics": []
}

Source: Getty

Other
Carnegie Europe

The EU in the East: Too Ambitious in Rhetoric, Too Unfocused in Action

Encouraging a multi-stakeholder dialogue and amplifying the voice of non-state actors acting in the public interest are key issues on which the Union should focus its assistance to the East.

Link Copied
By Olga Shumylo-Tapiola, Lucia Najšlová, Věra Řiháčková
Published on Feb 19, 2013

Source: Policy Paper

Although the EU is today mired in a number of uncertainties regarding the future of its own internal decisionmaking structures, it still is a source of inspiration for reform-minded groups and individuals in its Eastern neighbourhood. While strengthening of democratic institutions and improvement of governance are tasks that have to be desired and accomplished by Eastern neighbours themselves, the EU can contribute to the process by focusing on areas in which it has already a track-record.

Encouraging a multi-stakeholder dialogue and amplifying the voice of non-state actors acting in the public interest are key issues on which the Union should focus its assistance to the East. In its dialogue with partner governments, the EU should emphasize that it supports only projects for which such groups have been previously consulted. At the same time, those in charge of policy towards Eastern neighbours should follow more closely developments in Turkey’s and Russia’s neighbourhood policies towards the same countries.

This piece originally appeared in Notre Europe's Policy Paper, No. 71.

About the Authors

Olga Shumylo-Tapiola

Former Nonresident Associate, Carnegie Europe

Shumylo-Tapiola is a nonresident associate at Carnegie Europe in Brussels, where her research focused on Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Lucia Najšlová

EUROPEUM Institute for European Foreign Policy

Věra Řiháčková

EUROPEUM Institute for European Foreign Policy

Authors

Olga Shumylo-Tapiola
Former Nonresident Associate, Carnegie Europe
Olga Shumylo-Tapiola
Lucia Najšlová
EUROPEUM Institute for European Foreign Policy
Věra Řiháčková
EUROPEUM Institute for European Foreign Policy
EuropeEastern EuropeUkraineWestern EuropeBelarusMoldova

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    How Realistic Is a U.S.-Brokered Gas Deal Between Russia and the EU?

    A gas deal would create palpable economic value, but it wouldn’t fundamentally change the position of either Russia or the EU.

      • Sergey Vakulenko

      Sergey Vakulenko

  • Research
    Escaping an Escalatory Spiral: Can Europe Avoid a War With Russia?

    Nobody in the Kremlin fancies a fight with the whole European continent. Instead, the Russian leadership would be likely to opt for a short, targeted strike.

      Maksim Samorukov

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    By Waging War on Its Sovereignty, Putin Has United Ukraine

    The war does threaten Putin’s existence. That is why he does not negotiate.

      René Nyberg

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Deportation of Russian Propagandist Reveals Battle Over Church Influence in the Balkans

    Mikhail Zvinchuk’s detention could have dealt a serious blow to Russia’s propaganda infrastructure in the Balkans. Instead, the incident has made something else eminently clear: Moscow values and protects its propagandists, while Europe still hasn’t figured out what to do with them.

      Ivan Filippov, Ksenia Luchenko

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Could Nuclear Warheads Really Be Deployed to the Baltic States?

    Latvia and Lithuania have been considering whether they could temporarily host NATO nuclear weapons in the event of war or a similar crisis.

      Sergejs Potapkins

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center Newsletter
Carnegie Russia Eurasia logo, white
  • Research
  • Politika
  • About
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center Newsletter
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.