| Summary: | This article assesses how the involvement of European party federations (Europarties) in the politics of Eastern Partnership (EaP) states relates to the objectives of the EU in the region. Under specific scope conditions, Europarties can promote EU interests and values and help EU neighbourhood policy overcome some of the inconsistencies created by the lack of the enlargement instrument. The article conceptualizes Europarties as transnational actors whose external activities match the pathways of EU influence in EaP. Empirically, by examining political developments in Georgia and Moldova, the article demonstrates how Europarties function as conduit for EU strategic influence over pro-European elites, as well as normative influence on the functioning of party politics in EaP states.
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