It is premature to speak of EU’s expansion into post-Soviet space – Ekaterina Entina

Speaking with Alpha News, Ekaterina Entina, Director of the Center for Mediterranean Studies at the Higher School of Economics and Head of the Department of Black Sea and Mediterranean Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, commented on the possibility of EU expansion into the post-Soviet space.

“It’s premature to speak of the European Union’s expansion into the post-Soviet space. Perhaps we closed the issue with our special military operation and tough stance because Brussels, one way or another, saw that Moscow was capable of a very strong response. Regardless of how we assess this process and its effectiveness, it is nonetheless provoking a very sharp, unambiguous reaction from Moscow, which cannot help but be a deterrent for the European Union.

However, it cannot be ruled out that the EU has long since shifted its enlargement policy from a qualitative process of modernization and transformation to one of geopolitical containment. If they assess the risks of escalating tensions with Russia as low, then nothing prevents them from continuing this process, given the presence of loyal political elites in the post-Soviet countries,” Entina said.