ABSTRACT
The chapter examines the EU’s social role as a potential leader in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus over the past three decades. In doing so, it analyses both the EU’s role conception and perceptions of EU leadership in the so-called EU’s ‘eastern neighbourhood’, a fragmented and contested area. The chapter highlights major changes in how the EU sees its role in the region. Whereas until the early 2000s the EU eschewed claims for regional leadership, it then took on the role of a normative leader as part of the Eastern Partnership launched in 2009. However, closer scrutiny of the EU’s role conception since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlights a shift toward an EU political leadership, which drastically differs from the hitherto normative and regulatory leaderships. This comes in response to the regional environment, primarily to Russia’s actions, which have prompted the EU to envision, if not yet fully assume, the role of regional leader.
