Public
Engagement

On 18 March 2026, Dr George Robakidze, Executive Director of the EU Awareness Centre, participated in the high-level conference “Power, Partnerships and the Next Global Order”, organised by the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies in Brussels. The event brought together senior policymakers, leading experts, and international stakeholders to reflect on the evolving geopolitical landscape and the European Union’s role in shaping a new global order.
The conference addressed key strategic challenges facing the EU, including economic security, geopolitical competition, and technological transformation. A central theme across discussions was the growing shift from efficiency-driven globalisation toward a more security-oriented approach, where resilience, diversification of supply chains, and trusted partnerships are becoming increasingly critical. Particular emphasis was placed on the interconnected nature of economic, energy, and security policies, especially in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions and regional instability.
In this context, Dr George Robakidze raised a question focusing on the increasing strategic importance of the Black Sea and the South Caucasus for Europe’s energy diversification and security. He highlighted the contradictory regional dynamics — with Armenia and Azerbaijan moving towards cautious cooperation, while Georgia appears to be drifting away from its European path. Against this backdrop, he questioned how the European Union can enhance the credibility of its policy towards partner countries, moving beyond incentives and considering more tangible measures to ensure alignment with European integration when public support remains strongly pro-European.
In response, Arnaud Danjean, Senior Research Associate at the Martens Centre and former Member of the European Parliament (EPP), emphasised that Europe must prioritise energy diversification and avoid any renewed dependency on Russia, warning against emerging political temptations to reverse this course. Reflecting on the situation in Georgia, he noted that current developments are rooted in long-standing strategic miscalculations, both within the country and in the EU’s approach. He argued that the Eastern Partnership had been treated too narrowly as a technical process rather than a geopolitical one, failing to adequately account for external pressures, particularly from Russia. While acknowledging that the EU is now adopting a more geopolitical approach — especially after the war in Ukraine — he stressed that the case of Georgia remains complex and highlighted that earlier, more decisive engagement by the EU might have led to different outcomes.
The exchange reflected a broader debate throughout the conference: how the European Union can adapt its external action to a more competitive and fragmented global environment while preserving its commitment to democratic values and a rules-based international order. For the EU Awareness Centre, participation in such high-level discussions reflects its continued commitment to contributing to strategic debates on Europe’s global role and supporting a more coherent and effective European policy towards its neighbourhood.