On 11 April 2024, EUROPEUM organized the EU Enlargement Forum in Prague in the premises of the Czernin Palace of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The event brought together over 60 think-tankers, CSO representatives, civil servants and EU institutions’ representatives from 17 EU Member States and nine (potential) candidate countries. The event served also as the launching activity of our new research project (Re)uniting the East and West: Reflections on the 2004 EU enlargement (REWEU).

The participants discussed the impact of the 2004 EU enlargement on the acceding countries and the Union, the current enlargement process and prospects of deeper integration of the candidates, and challenges related to the next EU enlargement rounds.

The event aimed to facilitate exchange of experience and views among experts from “new” and “old” EU Member States as well as from the countries aspiring for membership in the Union. Through lively discussions and by creating new contacts and partnerships among   the participants, the Forum contributes to building of common understanding between Europe’s East and West on matters of common interest and of a shared European future.

Our Senior Research Fellows, Isabelle Ioannides and Jelena Dzankic, were among the kick-off speakers of the working session titled “Why EU Enlargement Matters: Hidden Costs of Non-Enlargement”. The panel focused on the future accession of more countries to the EU and how the discussion in EU capitals often revolved around the negative consequences of previous enlargements and the risks future enlargements entailed for the Union and tried to answer questions such as the following;

– What would a prolonged enlargement fatigue mean for the European continent and the EU?

– What other realistic options do candidates for EU membership have, should the process fail?

– What would be the economic, security and other costs of non-enlargement?

You can read more about the event here.

You can read more about the REWEU project here.

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