By Denis Cenusa in Germany The only Eastern Partnership countries with Association Agreements (Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia) entered the EU enlargement package in the period 2022-2023. This separated them from the rest of the EU’s eastern neighbouring states, where authoritarian regimes dominate (Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan) or a strong counterbalancing towards the EU is attempted (Armenia). Currently, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have the status of candidate countries, and the first two received, in June 2024, positive approval from the European Commission to start accession negotiations. …