The recent decision of Armenia to sign a customs union with Russia rather than an association agreement with the EU shows the extent of Russian influence in the South Caucasus. Meanwhile, Georgia continues to push for deeper ties with Euro-Atlantic institutions and Azerbaijan is attempting to balance its wish for more integration with Europe with a need to maintain good relations with Moscow. The EU needs to act more decisively and strategically to deal with this situation and to help bring stability to the region, heard participants in this Eastern Promises Policy Conference.

Speakers included: Andrey Makarychev, Professor of Government and Politics at the University of Tartu, Estonia; George Mchedlishvili, Robert Bosch Fellow at Chatham House; David Shahnazaryan, Director of the Concord Centre for Legal and Political Studies, Yerevan; Zaur Shiriyev, Lead Researcher at the Centre for Strategic Studies, Baku; Neil MacFarlane, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, St Anne’s College, Oxford University; Evgeni Kirilov, MEP and Co-President of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly; and Dennis Sammut, Director of LINKS and Member of the EPC Advisory Council.