In a collaborative effort between the ISET Policy Institute, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, and Bertelsmann Stiftung, a public discussion titled "Keeping Friends Closer: Why the EU should address new geo-economic realities and deepen partnerships with its neighbors" took place on 28th November 2023, at ISET.

This insightful discussion delved into the evolving geoeconomic landscape and strategized how the EU can navigate its economic relationships to actively shape this new reality. With geoeconomic rivalries shaping global dynamics, the discussion focused on the EU's role in managing its economic ties and fostering deeper partnerships with neighboring countries.

Of particular interest was the Georgian perspective, as the discussion sought to contribute valuable insights into how the EU can better recognize and leverage opportunities for a geoeconomic approach in its near abroad. Notably, the discussion considered recent developments such as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova attaining candidate country status, and Georgia receiving a recent recommendation for candidate status by the European Commission.

The event provided a platform for experts to share perspectives on how the EU can enhance its engagement in the region, taking into account the changing geopolitical dynamics. A key component of the discussion involved an analysis of Russia's and China's geoeconomic influence, providing a comparative examination to enrich the understanding of these dynamics.