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EU imposes more sanctions on Russia but fails to reach agreement on using Russian assets
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EU imposes more sanctions on Russia but fails to reach agreement on using Russian assets

23 October 2025
The European Union on Thursday 23 October applied more economic sanctions on Russia, adding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s new punitive measures the previous day against the Russian oil industry. However, EU leaders meeting in Brussels have so far failed to reach a deal on using Russian frozen assets. European capitals were hoping to convince Belgium, which houses the international deposit organisation Euroclear and is worried about legal repercussions, that a reparation loan from the funds is workable. Most of the €200 billion in Russian central bank assets frozen by the EU are held in Euroclear. However, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has so far been skeptical, reiterating during the European Council meeting on Thursday that certain conditions must first be met before a €140 billion loan can be given to Ukraine using Russia’s frozen assets. Russian officials and state media dismissed the new Western measures, saying they are largely ineffective.
commonspace.eu
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Opinion
The restoration of all regional communications is the only viable path to lasting peace in the South Caucasus
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The restoration of all regional communications is the only viable path to lasting peace in the South Caucasus

16 October 2025
Will the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) set to connect Azerbaijan with Nakhijevan and Türkiye via Armenia help establish lasting peace and prosperity for all?  Interestingly, if the Washington Declaration speaks about restoration of all communications, with reciprocal benefits for Armenia, the spotlight has been about the TRIPP and only about it. This oversight misses a vital point necessary for lasting peace and stability in the region.
Benyamin Poghosyan

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Editor's choice
Opinion
Opinion: An alternative view of Georgia’s European identity and past history
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Opinion: An alternative view of Georgia’s European identity and past history

3 September 2021
Georgia intends to submit an application for membership of the European Union in 2024. Whilst most Georgians assert the country’s European identity, alternative views are emerging. In this op-ed, GIPA doctoral student Archil Sikharulidze challenges the concept of Georgian “Europeaness”, and those who promote it.
Archil Sikharulidze
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European Defence Ministers meet to discuss Afghanistan and how to respond to future crisis
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European Defence Ministers meet to discuss Afghanistan and how to respond to future crisis

2 September 2021
It seems that the crisis in Afghanistan has focused minds in Brussels. On Thursday (2 September) EU defence ministers are meeting to discuss the crisis and how to learn lessons from it. Hovering at the top of the agenda is the EU's own capacity - or more precisely lack of capacity -  to act in these and similar situations. But the meeting is "informal" and no decisions are expected until later in the year.
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Commentary
Commentary: State-building cannot be imposed from outside; the EU and others must learn lessons from Afghanistan
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Commentary: State-building cannot be imposed from outside; the EU and others must learn lessons from Afghanistan

23 August 2021
A state cannot be built from outside, with a foreign army standing on top of it to supervise the process, argues Dennis Sammut in this commentary. As the EU expands its global ambitions, it must be aware of the risks of "mission creep" and make sure the mistakes in Afghanistan are not repeated.
Dennis Sammut
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Opinion
Opinion: Azerbaijan expects the EU to be more balanced in its policies toward the South Caucasus
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Opinion: Azerbaijan expects the EU to be more balanced in its policies toward the South Caucasus

5 August 2021
Whilst the EU is seen as a valuable partner for Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus, Baku has several concerns over perceived inconsistencies. In this op-ed for commonspace.eu, Vasif Huseynov says Azerbaijan welcomes Brussels playing a more active role in the region but argues that it must maintain balance in its relations with each of the countries.
Vasif Huseynov
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Commentary
Commentary: The EU reinforces its position in the South Caucasus before the upcoming EaP Summit
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Commentary: The EU reinforces its position in the South Caucasus before the upcoming EaP Summit

29 July 2021
In preparation for its Eastern Partnership Summit (EaP) in December, and after drastic regional shifts, the EU is trying hard to improve its position in the South Caucasus. In this commentary for commonspace.eu, Mahammad Mammadov unpacks the EU's strategy in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, looking at what can be gleaned from its recent high-profile visits to the region and billions in newly declared financial assistance.
Mahammad Mammadov
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Charles Michel in Armenia at the start of a regional tour
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Charles Michel in Armenia at the start of a regional tour

17 July 2021
The European Council president, Charles Michel, has began a regional tour of the South Caucasus aimed at re-enforcing the EU's relations with the region. On Saturday, Michel arrived in Armenia where he had a meeting with prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and afterwards addressed a press conference. Michel told journalists that the EU has the ambition to have a loyal, engaged and active relationship with the region that would contribute for its stability, prosperity and security.
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