Page 23 - The European Union and the War on Ukraine

- The war pushed the EU states to find joint solutions with regard
to other problematic topics such as migration and refugees, thus helping
the EU to shape its common long-term approach to this and other

pressing issues.
- The war in Ukraine triggered new policies in various fields, first
and foremost with regard to energy as the EU needs to introduce

renewed common energy policy in order to reduce dependence on
Russia as well as develop alternative energy supply networks while
strengthening autonomous energy production, including renewable
energy. The EU member states will also need to better coordinate on

various economic and financial issues in order to reduce negative
impacts of the ongoing military confrontation and counter the Russian
energy-related black-mailing.

- The EU may also rethink its approach towards the Union’s
Eastern European Neighbourhood which includes the Balkan states and
the “Association Trio” of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. To this end,
the Union may take bolder steps towards those regions which remain

vulnerable vis a vis Russia’s Tsarist ambitions. In such case, the EU will
have to bring clarity concerning absorbing the Western Balkan
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candidate and potential candidate countries in due time as well as
adopting new decisions with regard to the European future of the

“Association Trio” as the Trio members have already applied for EU
membership.
- The new policies and actions which are being elaborated by the
EU in response to the war in Ukraine will further facilitate the internal

consolidation of the Union. It will also reduce anti-European sentiments

28 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/enlargement-
policy/glossary/potential-candidate-countries_en

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