Representatives from the Institute for Democracy (IDSCS) attended the kick-off meeting for the GEO-POWER-EU project on 11-12 June 2024, hosted by the South East European Research Centre (SEERC) at CITY College, University of York Europe Campus.
The kickoff event included the participation of twenty-five researchers from 14 different organizations that gathered to discuss the project concept and work packages. The webinar commenced with a presentation of the GEO-POWER-EU project by Nikolaos Tzifakis, Project Coordinator and Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Peloponnese. This was followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Nina Caspersen, Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the University of York. The panel featured esteemed experts who shared their insights and strategies to amplify the EU’s influence in these dynamic regions: Brusylovska Olga, Professor at Mechnikov National University, Tena Prelec, Assistant Professor at the University of Rijeka, Kakha Gogolashvili, Senior Fellow and Director of the European Studies Programme at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, Alberto Domini, Policy Officer at DG Research, European Commission and Branimir Jovanovic, Economist responsible for the Western Balkans at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies.
The event fostered dynamic discussions and the emergence of interesting theories and ideas. Participants, both online and offline, engaged actively with the speakers, unraveling strategies to enhance the EU’s geopolitical influence and impact in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans.
