Speakers:Christina McKelvie MSP, Convenor of the European and External Relations Committee, Scottish Parliament (SNP)David Martin MEP, European Parliament Sub-Committee on Human Rights (Labour)Dr Carmen Gebhard, Lecturer, Politics and International Relations, University of EdinburghAdam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy CentreChair: David Pratt, Foreign Editor, The Herald and Sunday HeraldThis Edinburgh seminar for theTrouble in the Neighbourhood? The future of the EU's Eastern Partnership project, in partnership with the European Commission Office in Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, will take stock of recent developments in the EU's relationship with the countries in its eastern neighbourhood: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine. The issue of the EU's role in the region and the influence of the Russian-led alternative the Eurasian Economic Union have been at the heart of a major geo-political upheaval. The decision by Ukraine's then President Yanukovych to reject Eastern Partnership under pressure from Russia in the summer of 2013 lit the spark for the dramatic subsequent events in that country, while Armenia made a similar switch under Russian pressure ahead of the key November 2013 Vilnius summit. This seminar will look at the key planks of the EU's approach to the region including the offers of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, visa reform, funding for reform projects and political engagement. The seminar will examine both the EU's objectives in the region and how Europe is perceived by the Eastern Partnership countries themselves, along with how the domestic political situation in EU member states (most notably the UK) and the Eastern Partners shapes the relationship.The seminar will also act as the Scottish launch event for the new publication: Trouble in the Neighbourhood? The future of the EU's Eastern Partnership. Free copies will be available. Refreshments will be served.