For the last several years China has viewed the region of Central and Eastern Europe as an opportunity to gain a foothold in the European Union and influence states between the East and the West. One country not often considered as one in China’s focus is Lithuania. In this episode Maciak interviews Konstantinas Andrijauskas, an Associate Professor of Asian Studies and International Politics at Vilnius University. They look at how China has focused on increasing its influence in the region and specifically its growing interest in Lithuania - economically and politically. They also discuss how the COVID-19 crisis now plays a role in relations with China in Europe and the West.

Enjoy the podcast? Become a Patron. Support Talk Eastern Europe here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Join the podcast Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope

Resources
Konstantinas Andrijauskas: The Dragon and the Knight: China’s Growing Presence in Lithuania. Eastern Europe Studies Centre. http://www.eesc.lt/uploads/news/id1137/v07_Dragon-and-Knight_leidinys_A4.pdf
Episode 21: Russia-China relations in the spotlight https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/episode21

Music featured in the podcast under Creative Commons license 4.0
“Taste of China” by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/292-taste-of-china
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This debate took place live online an May 13 2020. The debate examines how Poland and Germany view the region of Eastern Europe. Both countries have a strong tradition in the region – either through Germany’s Ostpolitik or Poland’s Polityka Wschodnia.

In this debate we address such questions as - What roles do history and geography play in Germany’s Ostpolitik and Poland’s Polityka Wschodnia? What are the commonalities to approaches of both countries? What are the differences? How does each country view the European Union’s position in the region? How do both states support the Eastern Partnership? What about relations with Russia and how did they change after the annexation of Crimea? What are recommendations for strengthening cooperation in this region?

The debate features:
Poland: Agnieszka Bryc - Assistant Professor at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Germany: Wilfried Jilge - Associate Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
Moderated by Adam Reichardt, editor of New Eastern Europe

The debate is co-organised by the Jan Nowak Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe and the Deutsch-Russischer Austausch e.V. (DRA) and sponsored by the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s Warsaw Office as well as the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation within the framework of the project titled “Ost/Wschód: German-Polish Debates on the East”.

It has been two years since Nikol Pashinyan has come to power after the Velvet Revolution in Armenia. In this episode Adam catches up with Richard Giragosian to discuss how much has changed in the country and how much has not. They also discuss relations with Russia with Russia under Pashinyan, which seem to be heading towards a deeper crisis. Adam and Richard also explore how Armenia has managed the COVID-19 situation and try to understand what role, if any, other players like the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union have played in assisting Armenia in the crisis. Lastly, they look at the shifts in regional relations including with Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran as well as how the crisis has impacted the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Become a Patron – we need only 3 more to reach our goal: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Resources:
Valentina Gevorgyan: “Armenia’s different legacy” New Eastern Europe. 6 March 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/03/06/armenias-different-legacy/

Follow New Eastern Europe’s ongoing coverage of the Coronavirus crisis in the Eastern Partnership: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/03/16/coronavirus-in-the-eastern-partnership-states/

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/TalkEasternEurope

An appeal to help New Eastern Europe – Purchase our latest issue! https://neweasterneurope.eu/an-appeal-to-help-new-eastern-europe-purchase-our-latest-issue/

Music in the podcast "The Road Home" by Alexander Nakarada licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4769-the-road-home.
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Developments in relations between Romanian and Moldova have raised a lot eyebrows lately. After Moldova’s pro-European government has fallen to be replaced by a Kremlin-friendly one; along with an already pro-Russia president the question remains as to what role Romania plays in all this.

In this episode, Maciek catches up with analyst Oktawian Milewski to discuss the historical ties between the two countries and current developments. They look at recent political developments; growing Russian influence in Moldova and what consequences the coronavirus crisis will have for the economies and relations.

Become a Talk Eastern Europe Patron: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Resources & Links:
Episode 19: Strange Bedfellows in Moldova: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-ep-19-final

Moldova: A Russian credit or a Russian roulette? https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/05/05/moldova-a-russian-credit-or-a-russian-roulette/

An appeal to help New Eastern Europe – Purchase our latest issue! https://neweasterneurope.eu/an-appeal-to-help-new-eastern-europe-purchase-our-latest-issue/

Online Debate - May 13th 2020 - Debate: What are Polish / German views on the East? https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/05/08/debate-what-are-polish-german-views-on-the-east/

Music featured in the Podcast Licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0/4.0:
Imagefilm 017 by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/314-imagefilm-017

On April 20th 2020, New Eastern Europe convened an online live discussion which examined the latest issue of New Eastern Europe and brought some of its authors together to highlight the key issues surrounding the war in Donbas in Eastern Ukraine, which are even further exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID19. We are publishing the audio of the discussion here.

The discussion featured:
Adam Reichardt, New Eastern Europe/Talk Eastern Europe
Rebecca Harms, a former MEP with the Alliance ’90/The Greens
Hanna Shelest, Editor-in-Chief of Ukraine Analytica
Tim Bohse, Deutsch-Russischer Austausch
Igor Mitchnik, Drukarnia – Civil Society Center Sloviansk

Get your copy of this issue here: https://neweasterneurope.eu/product/issue-3-2020/

Music featured in the podcast: Funk Interlude by Dysfunction_AL (c) copyright 2016 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/destinazione_altrove/53756 Ft: Fourstones - Scomber ( Bonus Track )

This episode takes a look at the current state of the Eastern Partnership and discusses a new report that outlines possible scenarios for future developments in the region. Adam and Maciek start with a recap of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership programme. Adam then interview Quincy Cloet, Managing Editor of Visegrad Insight and a researcher with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. They dissect the latest report by Visegrad Insight titled: Eastern European Futures. Four scenarios for the Eastern Partnership 2030.

The newest issue of New Eastern Europe is out! Get your copy here and support our publication: https://neweasterneurope.eu/product/issue-3-2020/

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/TalkEasternEurope

Resources:
Check out our special coverage: Coronavirus in the Eastern Partnership states: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/03/16/coronavirus-in-the-eastern-partnership-states/

Visegrad Insight: Eastern European Futures. Four scenarios for the Eastern Partnership 2030. https://visegradinsight.eu/eap2030/eastern-europe-four-scenarios/

“From Association to Integration. A Chance to Advance a Novel Agenda for the Eastern Partnership. By: Adam Reichardt. Visegrad Insight 1 April 2020. https://visegradinsight.eu/from-association-to-integration-eastern-partnership/

“Borders might be closed, but our policies need to be open” New Eastern Europe 1 April 2020 https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/04/01/borders-might-be-closed-but-our-policies-need-to-be-open/

“The Eastern Partnership should now focus on greater integration”. A conversation with Petras Auštrevičius, member of the European Parliament from Lithuania. New Eastern Europe 16 March 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/03/16/the-eastern-partnership-should-now-focus-on-greater-integration/

Please support the podcast. Become a Patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Music featured in the Podcast
Licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0/4.0:
Intro/outro: “Indie Rock” by Scott Holmes:
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Road_Trip_Indie_Rock/Indie_Rock_1327
“Boston Landing” by Blue Dot Sessions: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Skittle/Boston_Landing

This episode takes an in-depth look at the political developments in Russia and analyzes the changes that were made in order for Vladimir Putin to stay on as president of the Russian Federation for at least another two terms.

The episode features an interview with Agnieszka Legucka, an expert on Russia from the Polish Institute of International Affairs. Maciek and Agnieszka discuss Russia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, how it helped Putin quickly manoeuvre in order to stay in power, and what might be next for the Russian president and his inner circle. They also touch on the economic situation in the country with oil prices at an all-time low and how this, coupled with an oncoming recession as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, will affect Russia in the coming months.

Read New Eastern Europe’s appeal to include Eastern Partnership countries in any EU recovery plan: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/04/01/borders-might-be-closed-but-our-policies-need-to-be-open/

Follow our coverage of the coronavirus in our region here: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/03/16/coronavirus-in-the-eastern-partnership-states/

Resources
“Kremlin Kids: The Second Generation of the Russian Elite” By: Ageniszka Legucka and Bartosz Bieliszczuk. Polish Institute of International Affairs: https://www.pism.pl/publications/Kremlin_Kids_The_Second_Generation_of_the_Russian_Elite
“Putin’s ideas for 2024” By: Agnieszka Legucak. New Eastern Europe 31 January 2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/01/31/putins-ideas-for-2024/

Join us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/groups/TalkEasternEurope

Music featured in the Podcast
Licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0/4.0:
Intro/outro: “Indie Rock” by Scott Holmes: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Road_Trip_Indie_Rock/Indie_Rock_1327
The Show Must Be Go by Kevin MacLeod: https://filmmusic.io/song/4509-the-show-must-be-go
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Please support our efforts. Become a Podcast Patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Adam and Maciek open the episode with a discussion on how the coronavirus situation is developing in the Eastern Partnership countries. They also highlight one small bit of good news in recent days, despite all the bad news that has been dominating the headlines.

The episode then focuses on the main topic of the podcast which is the recent shuffling of the cabinet of ministers in Ukraine, which includes a new prime minister and foreign minister. Adam interviews Hennadiy Maksak, head of the Foreign Policy council “Prism”, for his insight on the political changes. They discuss the reasoning behind it, how will it affect relations with the West and what are the latest developments regarding the war in Donbas.

Keep the discussion going! Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/TalkEasternEurope

Support the podcast – Become a TEE Patron! www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Take out a digital subscription to New Eastern Europe for just 5 euros per month! Start your subscription here: www.neweasterneurope/subscribe

Resources:
- NEE’s ongoing coverage of the Coronavirus in the Eastern Partnership states: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/03/16/coronavirus-in-the-eastern-partnership-states/

- Anton Naychuk: “What’s next for Ukraine’s oligarchs?” New Eastern Europe Issue 1-2/2020. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/01/28/whats-next-for-ukraines-oligarchs/

- Mattia Nelle: “A turn to the past: Ukraine’s troubling government reshuffle” European Council on Foreign Relations https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_a_turn_to_the_past_ukraines_troubling_government_reshuffle

- The Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” http://prismua.org/en/

Music featured in the podcast licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0/4.0:

Intro/outro: “Indie Rock” by Scott Holmes: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Road_Trip_Indie_Rock/Indie_Rock_1327

“Chill Wave” by Kevin MacLeod. https://filmmusic.io/song/3498-chill-wave License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 32 of the Talk Eastern Europe podcast takes a snapshot of how some countries in Eastern Europe are trying to slow the effects of climate change in the region. After the European Commission announced its ambitious initiative of an EU New Green Deal, many questions remain, including to what extent members of Europe’s eastern neighbourhood will be involved in the project and how a just transition from a carbon-based fuel economy could look like.

To get a better sense of the challenges in the region and what activities are being undertaken at a grassroots level, Adam interviews Svitlana Romanko - managing director of 350.org for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

+ Become a PATRON of the podcast. Join us here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope
+ Let’s keep the conversation going – find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope

Resources:

About 350.org: https://350.org/about/

“The European Green Deal” https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/european-green-deal-communication_en.pdf

“Ukraine’s own Green Deal aims to slash energy imports”. By: Sam Morgan. Euractiv 27 January 2020. https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/ukraines-own-green-deal-aims-to-slash-energy-imports/

Music featured in the podcast licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0/4.0:

Intro/outro: “Indie Rock” by Scott Holmes: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Road_Trip_Indie_Rock/Indie_Rock_1327

“Chill Wave” by Kevin MacLeod. https://filmmusic.io/song/3498-chill-wave License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Maciek and Adam are back in the latest episode of Talk Eastern Europe! This episode is dedicated to the upcoming POSTWEST Transcultural Festival which will take place in Berlin 27-31 of May. During the festival, 12 theatres from the region of Central and Eastern Europe will get together to showcase productions that interpret this idea of what is East, and what is West. In the podcast, Adam sits down with Alina Aleshchenko and Wiebke Jahns from Berlin to discuss the background of the festival, its aims and what we might expect from the participating theatre groups.

SUPPORT the podcast – we only need 1 more patron to meet our goal: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Learn more about the POSTWEST Transcultural Festival (May 27-31 2020):
https://www.volksbuehne.berlin/en/programm/8735/festival-postwest

Don’t forget to check out New Eastern Europe’s latest commentaries and analysis: www.neweasterneurope.eu

Join our Facebook group! www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope


Music featured in the podcast licensed under the Creative Commons license 3.0/4.0:
Intro: Indie Rock by Scott Holmes: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Road_Trip_Indie_Rock/Indie_Rock_1327
Morning Rhythm by Rafael Krux https://filmmusic.io/song/5338-morning-rhythm- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/