International Seminar: The fight for influence in the South Caucasus - What role for the EU?

Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), in cooperation with the European Policy Centre and the Robert Bosch Foundation, are delighted to invite you to the seminar that will be held in Brussels, Belgium on 14 December 2011.

Because of the South Caucasus’ geopolitical location at the crossroads between Europe, Central Asia, Russia and the Middle East, external powers maintain a significant interest in the region. Russia’s primary interest is to consolidate its position as the main regional player. This, in the past, has equated to interference in the internal affairs of the three states by using the region’s protracted conflicts to preserve weak and dependent states. Despite having no diplomatic ties with Armenia, Turkey wishes to carve out a much bigger regional role for itself, including as an energy hub for resources from the Caspian Sea to Europe. Meanwhile, Iran’s goal seems to be to prevent Western powers, including the US and Turkey, from gaining any further influence, and building economic links with the region.

The increasing activity of the EU in the South Caucasus has been a focus for discussion among policy makers and academics since December 2003, when the European Security Strategy was adopted. With the deployment of the EUMM in 2008, the EU assumed, for the first time, responsibility in the security area. Furthermore, the Eastern Partnership has also increased the EU’s engagement in the region bilaterally and multilaterally. However, the EU’s “soft power” strategy has been criticized by some commentators as ambiguous.

This conference – which will be on the record – will bring together the different stakeholders in the South Caucasus, as well as media representatives. It will focus particularly on the EU’s role, the prospects for future EU engagement and how EU integration can become a more substantive process for the South Caucasus.

Kindly note that seating is limited and registration will be on a first-come first-served basis. Please confirm your participation by replying to: Vasyl Belmega

See attached programme for details of speakers.

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