The REUNIR Podcast

REUNIR Horizon Europe Project
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The REUNIR Podcast discusses topics revolving around external threats to the military, socio-economic, and democratic resilience of nine countries in the Western Balkans and the EU's eastern neighbourhood in a new era of international relations. This podcast is brought to you by REUNIR, a research project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Episodes

  1. Sep 29

    How Should the EU Defend Its Future Members — and Itself? (With Denis Cenusa)

    This episode is produced by the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project. Host Prof. Tobias Schumacher welcomes Dr. Denis Cenusa, Associate Expert at the Geopolitics and Security Studies Centre in Lithuania and Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington. Against the backdrop of the upcoming European Security Strategy, they discuss the security threats facing the EU’s candidate countries in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood, from Russian aggression and hybrid threats to broader vulnerabilities in defence, cybersecurity and governance. They explore what the EU can - and should - do to strengthen the security and resilience of its future members, including through closer security and defence cooperation and greater access to EU instruments and initiatives. For further analysis and concrete recommendations, read the REUNIR policy brief on security at reunir-horizon.eu

    How Should the EU Defend Its Future Members — and Itself? (With Denis Cenusa)

  2. 12/19/2025

    How Can the EU Support the Western Balkan Candidate Countries against Socioeconomic Threats?

    This episode is produced by the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project. Host Madalina Dobrescu welcomes Jelena Pejić Nikić, senior research at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) and a PhD candidate at the University of Belgrade. They discuss the socioeconomic threats posed by external actors in the EU's candidate countries in the Western Balkans, and how the EU can help strengthen socioeconomic resilience in these countries.

    How Can the EU Support the Western Balkan Candidate Countries against Socioeconomic Threats?

  3. 12/15/2025

    What Socioeconomic Threats are the Eastern Neighbourhood Candidate Countries Facing?

    This episode is produced by the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project. Host Madalina Dobrescu welcomes Tinatin Akhvlediani, research fellow at the EU foreign policy unit at CEPS and a visiting professor at the College of Europe and the International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University. They discuss the socioeconomic threats posed by external actors in the EU's candidate countries in the Eastern neighbourhood, and how the EU can help strengthen socioeconomic resilience in these countries.

    What Socioeconomic Threats are the Eastern Neighbourhood Candidate Countries Facing?

  4. 12/06/2025

    How do External Actors Interfere in the Political Affairs of the Western Balkans EU Candidate Countries?

    This episode is produced by the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project. Host Madalina Dobrescu welcomes Florian Bieber, professor of Southeast European History and Politics and director of the Centre for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz. He is also the coordinator of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG). They discuss one of REUNIR's working papers on political threats posed by external actors in the EU's candidate countries, focusing on the strategies used by external actors to interfere in the political affairs of the candidate countries in the Western Balkans.

    How do External Actors Interfere in the Political Affairs of the Western Balkans EU Candidate Countries?

  5. 11/27/2025

    How are External Actors Undermining Democracy and European Integration in the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood Candidate Countries?

    This episode is produced by the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project. Host Madalina Dobrescu welcomes Laure Delcour, professor of international relations and EU studies at Sorbonne-Nouvelle University, visiting professor at the College of Europe, and director of the Institute for Research on Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and North Asia at the University of Warsaw. They discuss how the threats posed by external actors to Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia's democratic transition and European integration path, and what the EU can do to help strengthen resilience in these countries.

    How are External Actors Undermining Democracy and European Integration in the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood Candidate Countries?

  6. 12/26/2024

    What are the Possible Scenarios for the War in Ukraine?

    This episode is produced by the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project. Host Madalina Dobrescu welcomes Roman Petrov, Professor of Law at the University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and currently University of Hamburg Fellow 2024/2025 at the Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS). With the war in Ukraine entering its third year, they discuss possible scenarios for the war and what victory or defeat would mean for European security.

    What are the Possible Scenarios for the War in Ukraine?

  7. 12/23/2024

    Where does Georgia's Foreign Policy Stand Today? (REUNIR x GIP and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Georgia

    This episode is recorded in Georgian, and is produced by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Georgian Institute of Politics, a member of the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project consortium. The podcast discusses Georgia's foreign relations in light of the political escalation of the last weeks, and challenges moving forward. Host Nino Gelashvili, journalist at Radio Liberty welcomes Nino Samkharadze, policy analyst at the Georgian Institute of Politics.

    Where does Georgia's Foreign Policy Stand Today? (REUNIR x GIP and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Georgia

  8. 12/19/2024

    How did Russia Interfere with the 2024 Moldovan Presidential Elections and EU Membership Referendum? (REUNIR x IPRE and Radio Moldova)

    This Romanian-language episode is produced by the Chișinău-based Institute for European Policies and Reform (IPRE) – a member of the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project consortium – and Radio Moldova as part of the Paralela 47 radio program. Host Mihai Mogildea welcomes guests Andrei Curararu (expert at think-tank WatchDog.md), Mariuta Nistor (journalist at independent weekly Ziarul de Garda), and Mihai Isac (independent political analyst). They discuss Russian interference in light of Moldova's presidential elections and EU membership referendum.

    How did Russia Interfere with the 2024 Moldovan Presidential Elections and EU Membership Referendum? (REUNIR x IPRE and Radio Moldova)

  9. 12/03/2024

    Is the EU Ready to Face New Geopolitical Challenges Amidst the War in Ukraine and the Second Trump Administration? (REUNIR x BCSP Lighthouse Podcast)

    This episode is produced by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) Lighthouse podcast series, a member of the REUNIR Horizon Europe Project consortium. Host Srdjan Cvijic and guest speaker Tony Lawrence from the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) discuss the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, the future of EU-NATO relations in light of Trump's victory in the US elections, and the EU's support to Ukraine.

    Is the EU Ready to Face New Geopolitical Challenges Amidst the War in Ukraine and the Second Trump Administration? (REUNIR x BCSP Lighthouse Podcast)
  • 9 Episodes

About

The REUNIR Podcast discusses topics revolving around external threats to the military, socio-economic, and democratic resilience of nine countries in the Western Balkans and the EU's eastern neighbourhood in a new era of international relations. This podcast is brought to you by REUNIR, a research project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Information

  • Creator
    REUNIR Horizon Europe Project
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © REUNIR 2024
  • Show Website
    The REUNIR Podcast