Contents: Introduction; Part I The European Union in the Western Balkans: European Union enlargement to the Western Balkans: political conditionality and problems of democratic consolidation, Geoffrey Pridham; Threats to human security in the Western Balkans, Teresa Cierco. Part II The European Union in its Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood: The many patterns of Europeanization: European Union relations with Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, Alena Vysotskaya Guedes Vieira; European Union policy towards Belarus and Libya: old and new double standards?, Giselle Bosse; Coming of age: dilemmas for the European Union's foreign policy in the wider Europe, Licinia Simao. Part III The European Union and Russia: The European Union and Russia: partners by default?, Tom Casier; The European Union institutional balance: assessment of its impact on the relationship with Russia, Sandra Fernandes; The European Union, Russia, and the 'in-between Europe': managing interdependence, Igor Torbakov; Challenges and opportunities at the European Union's vicinity: assessing policies and practices, Maria Raquel Freire; Conclusion: the European Union in the 21st century; Index.