THE ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE BLACK SEA: ITS POLICIES, STRENGTHS-WEAKNESSES AND RIVALRY WITH RUSSIA

Black Sea is a region of opportunities and challenges. The attractiveness of these opportunities pushes many international actors including the EU to involve in the politics of the region despite the challenges existing in the region. After the end of Cold War, it became possible for the EU to establish relations with the countries in the region. The eastern enlargement covering the post-Soviet countries in the Central and Eastern Europe led to an increase in the importance of the Black Sea region in the EU’s neighbourhood. By the way, the EU has been involving into the region through various kinds of mechanisms. As the level of involvement of the EU to the region increases, the competition between the EU and Russia aiming to design their shared neighbourhoods in line with their own objectives has also intensified. This study aims to examine the EU’s way of handling of its relations with the Black Sea region. In this scope, firstly, the EU mechanisms targeting the region will be elaborated. Secondly, the strengths and weaknesses of the EU policies in the Black Sea region will be discussed. Finally, the balance between the EU and Russia in the Black Sea will be considered