Over the past few days, the German authorities have issued statements denying the rumours of a conflict between chancellor Merkel and minister Steinmeier.

The signing of the treaty on alliance and strategic partnership marks the culmination of the tactic Russia has been employing with regard to Abkhazia since May.

The agreement is quite a voluminous document and sets an ambitious reform agenda covering almost all areas of state governance.

On 9 November, during President Putin’s visit to Beijing, another package of Russian-Chinese agreements regarding the energy sector was signed.

The long-term mayor of Sibiu, Klaus Iohannis, was the unexpected winner of the presidential runoff in Romania on 16 November.

The deepening political crisis and the weakening of the pro-Western wing of Georgian Dream may lead to a slowdown in the processes of reform.

Surveys conducted in recent months indicate a clear improvement in the ratings for the two main pro-European parties.

The situation in the North Caucasus has stabilised, in comparison with previous years, mainly as regards the activity of the Islamic military underground.

In recent months Russia has increasingly used instruments for exerting economic pressure on Moldova.

Over the past few months, Chisinau has adopted a more assertive policy regarding the Transnistrian issue.