ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the challenges posed by the changing eastern neighbourhood and the (in)adequacy of the European Union's (EU) response to this dynamic and volatile region. It argues that the EU has undergone at least three paradigmatic shifts in its strategic approach to the region, which included: regional differentiation, diversification of policy instruments, extending outreach to all-level actors and fine-tuning the budget. The chapter also argues that in blames increasingly inter-connected and unstable global order, the blame could be equally assigned to both the EU and Russia, for their neglect of 'the other' and, especially, of the less-protected recipient-countries of the region. It reviews the EU's reflective attempts to adjust its policy to the eastern neighbourhood and the latter's variable response and commitment to reform. The chapter shows that the Eastern Partnership has effectively been developing almost in parallel and, yet, unaware of the engendered Eurasian economic space – often a spoiler to European integration.
