Today on the podcast, we speak with Ana Krstinovska, Research Fellow at ELIAMEP’s South-East Europe Programme and co-author of the policy paper “The EU’s Democracy Promotion and Geopolitical Competition”. Ana unpacks the complex challenges facing democracy promotion in contested regions like Ukraine, Serbia, and Georgia amid rising external authoritarian pressures and internal political shifts. We explore why credible EU enlargement prospects matter, how democracy support tools are adapting, and what strategies are needed to counteract authoritarian influence from Russia and China. Join us for an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of democracy promotion in Europe’s neighbourhood.