Public
Engagement
Executive Director of the EU Awareness Centre, George Robakidze, Speaks at Strategic Panel on Defending Democracy in Eastern Europe
On May 13, 2025, the Executive Director of the EU Awareness Centre, Dr George Robakidze, participated in a high-profile panel discussion titled “Why the EU Needs to Act Now to Defend Democracy in Eastern Europe”, co-organised by JEF Brussels, Promote Georgia, and Students of Liberty.
The event brought together distinguished speakers, including Dan Barna, Member of the European Parliament and vice-president of the Renew Group and the ALDE Party; Daniela Morari, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union; Vano Chkhikvadze, Head of EU Policy at Araminta Advisers and Garvan Walshe, political strategist and founder of Article7. The discussion was moderated by Teona Lavrelashvili, Visiting Fellow at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.
The discussion examined the ongoing political crises in Georgia, Moldova, and Romania, focusing on the internal political strife, Russia’s malicious influence and strategies, the significance of civil society, and how recent events are reshaping and potentially affecting the EU’s position in the region.
In his remarks, George Robakidze emphasised that before discussing specific mechanisms of cooperation to counter Russia’s malicious actions, it is essential to analyse the nature and the scope of Russia's hybrid warfare and its tools. He stressed that the belief that conflict ‘freezing’ or appeasement will deter Russian aggression has proven dangerously false, Georgia’s experience since the 1990s and Ukraine's experience with the Minsk I and II agreements are sobering lessons.
The EU must move beyond rhetorical support and develop enforceable, strategic mechanisms of deterrence and resilience in its Eastern partnership.
Dr Robakidze proposed several concrete initiatives, including:
• Integrating Georgia and Moldova into the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Hybrid Threats;
• Enhancing NATO-EU strategic communication coordination;
• Supporting civil society and independent media in countering disinformation;
• Developing an EU Strategic Resilience Framework for post-war settlements with Russia;
In his concluding remarks, George Robakidze warned that negotiations with Russia, lacking real enforcement tools, often serve as tactical pauses for the Kremlin to pursue further destabilisation rather than steps toward peace.
The EU Awareness Centre warmly thanks JEF Brussels, Students For Liberty, and Promote Georgia for the excellent organisation of the panel discussion. We deeply appreciate your dedication to fostering open dialogue, strengthening democratic values, and promoting a united European future. EUAC remains committed to supporting Georgia and other EU-aspiring nations through knowledge-sharing, advocacy, and solidarity in the fight against authoritarianism.
