In a policy paper titled “Antagonisms in the EU’s Neighbourhood – Geopolitical Ambitions in the Black Sea and Caspian Region,” the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s project known as “Strategies for the EU Neighbourhood” examines the motives driving actions taken by Russia, Turkey and China. The paper also examines Iranian and Saudi Arabian policies vis-à-vis the region. In addition to recommending specific responses to actions that are shifting the regional balance of power, the paper offers suggestions as to how Berlin and Brussels could better represent European interests in their immediate neighborhood.
Among the paper’s recommendations for defending European interests in the Black Sea and Caspian region are the establishment of a dedicated monitoring system able to provide reliable and rapid information on Russia’s actions, and the provision of more visible support for the EU member states of Bulgaria and Romania as well the EU-associated states bordering the Black Sea. The paper also calls on stakeholders to advocate more forcefully for compliance with international law so as to preclude military escalation while ensuring freedom of navigation and the security of important transport and energy infrastructure.