News & Events

In Serbia and Georgia, recent mass mobilisations have unfolded beyond traditional opposition parties and civil society organisations. These self-organised, grassroots movements challenge existing power structures and redefine civic activism in hybrid regimes. What are their driving forces? How do they reshape political participation and democratic engagement? Join us…

RE-ENGAGE researchers travelled to Kyiv in September 2025 to conduct fieldwork. Vira, a Kyiv based university student and locally trained enumerator, shares her testimony as a voice that speaks from within the conditions that both sustain and constrain the research.

Quickly bringing in the Western Balkan candidates, Ukraine and Moldova to counter Russia or China poses many dilemmas for the EU

A Russia-Ukraine peace deal that capitulates to Putin risks destabilising the Western Balkans, emboldening Serbian territorial claims and undermining EU credibility

Europe’s first Enlargement Forum comes at a moment when accession is no longer just a policy process but a test of trust.

What began as a cautious enlargement process is now a test of whether the EU can reform, overcome vetoes, and lead in a rapidly shifting world order.

Serbia’s young people are making their dissatisfaction with Aleksandar Vucic’s corrupt government known. The EU should consider freezing Serbia’s accession negotiations and support the country’s return to democratic fundamentals.

Russian influence characterized the election campaign in Moldova, both in the form of disinformation and control over access to energy. Nevertheless, democracy withstood the pressure. The explanation lies in the trust between people and between the people and the state. This should be taken into account in the assessment of European aid and cooperation.

Ukraine remains standing thanks to its unwavering civilian resistance. At the same time, there is a growing need for more soldiers. This is the difficult equation that Ukraine's leadership must solve.

The success of Maia Sandu’s pro-EU party in Moldova’s parliamentary election holds three valuable lessons for protecting votes from Russian meddling in the future—whether that is in Moldova or in other vulnerable democracies

Moldova’s parliamentary election will steer the country towards either the EU or Russia. Whatever the outcome, it is a chance for Europeans to understand Putin’s disinformation playbook and protect other vulnerable states from his influence

Moldova’s parliamentary election is a barometer of regional democracy. Its outcome could reshape EU enlargement, regional security, and the balance of power with Russia.

On 1st July, Poland hands over its EU Council presidency to Denmark. The latter’s focus on EU enlargement and support for Ukraine underscores its bid to reach Europe’s geopolitical heart—and secure Denmark against threats from east and west

The RE-ENGAGE project is currently conducting fieldwork in six case countries in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood to deepen the understanding of how these countries perceive and respond to hybrid threats, such as disinformation. The project’s primary aim is to assess how the EU can more effectively…

A tragic accident in Novi Sad, caused by corruption and negligence, has sparked widespread student-led protests in Serbia, exposing deep public dissatisfaction with government mismanagement. The movement, unique in its leaderless and ideology-free approach, continues to unite students, workers, and various social groups in a mass uprising against the…

The recent appointment of former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili as Georgia’s president highlights the deepening crisis of democracy in the country. Chosen through indirect elections by a parliament whose legitimacy is already under question due to allegations of widespread electoral fraud in the October 2024 elections, Kavelashvili’s appointment has been…

As the EU grapples with the growing influence of authoritarian powers in its neighbourhood, the RE-ENGAGE project is working to provide the EU with a new, resilience-focused approach to democracy support. At a recent RE-ENGAGE conference in Moldova, researchers highlighted the need for the EU to adapt its democracy…

As the European Union pushes for peace in the Western Balkans, it should focus on moving the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue beyond its current impasse to establish long-lasting regional stability and deter Russian influence

Georgia’s parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024 will mark a critical moment for its democracy. Over the past decade, democratic norms have eroded, with increasing authoritarianism and the introduction of the controversial “Foreign Agents’ Law.” These elections will determine whether Georgia can restore its democratic principles or slide further…

Welcome to follow the RE-ENGAGE conference session online from the Moldova State University on 7 November 2024.

The RE-ENGAGE project is pleased to announce the publication of two comprehensive background papers that delve into the dynamics of hybrid regimes in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood amidst the current geopolitical landscape. The first paper, Hybridity and Hybrid Regimes in the Western Balkans in…

What has RE-ENGAGE been up to during its first 6 months?

As Georgia looks set to adopt a Russian-style bill against “foreign agents” which will harm the country’s EU accession prospects, Europeans should be ready to suspend some funding assistance to Tbilisi.

That EU enlargement is a geopolitical imperative is no longer in doubt. But to make enlargement happen, the EU may need to decouple bilateral disputes from the accession process.

The Orban saga highlights the need for more effective decision-making within the EU – especially now that enlargement is firmly back on the agenda

With Russia’s war on Ukraine raging on its eastern border, EU enlargement in the Western Balkans has a new geopolitical urgency. The EU must commit to supporting their accession – and a fixed date like 2030 alongside a staged approach will add credibility to this commitment