Podcasts about eu enlargement

Discussion Highlights:Global demographic megatrends include aging populations, declining fertility rates, and diverging regional population dynamics.Migration patterns involve both forced displacement from conflict zones such as Ukraine and Palestine and labor migration from the Western Balkans, with climate-related movement remaining unpredictable.Depopulation in the Western Balkans is driven by inaccurate census data, economic factors that incentivize emigration, steadily declining fertility rates, and cultural influences on family size.Many countries in the region face labor shortages as plumbers, electricians, and healthcare workers emigrate, prompting policy responses to attract migrant labor, cover an estimated €600 million integration cost in Croatia, and implement language instruction and integration programs.Populist political discourse often exploits public fears about migration, while political leaders frequently show reluctance to acknowledge domestic labor shortages and plan beyond short electoral cycles.Europe's geopolitical context is shaped by U.S.-China competition, the continuation of the war in Ukraine, and uneven or delayed European responses to crises, such as the conflict in Gaza.The current EU enlargement process is critiqued as overly merit-based, and many argue for the package accession of all Western Balkan states, drawing lessons from Croatia's recent membership and anticipating a changing nature of the future European Union.Bosnia and Herzegovina's post-Dayton governance system succeeded in halting widespread violence but remains hampered by persistent power-sharing gridlock, redundant international structures such as the Office of the High Representative, and ongoing challenges in constitutional and education system reforms.Thirty years after Dayton, instances of inter-ethnic violence have remained low since 1995, but schooling and commemorative practices remain fragmented, and domestic dialogue on wartime accountability has stalled.EU integration offers the potential to replace international oversight with European Union frameworks while addressing governance deficits, pervasive corruption, and the need for electoral reforms.About Alida VračićAlida Vračić is a political scientist and lawyer. She co-founded and serves as executive director of Populari, a Sarajevo-based think tank specializing in post-conflict state-building, democratization, good governance, and migration in the Western Balkans. Vračić holds a law degree from the University of Sarajevo and Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, where she specialized in criminal procedure law, an M.Sc. in International Public Policy from University College London, and completed Executive Education for non-government executives at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Before founding Populari in 2007, she worked for the State Court Prosecutor's team in Bosnia, at the Human Rights Commission of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and led Balkan-wide projects at the Human Rights Centre, University of Sarajevo, and the Spanish Institutional Programme. Vračić has been affiliated with several academic and policy institutions, including as a former Europe's Futures fellow at IWM, the European Council on Foreign Relations as a Visiting Fellow, and the German Marshall Fund as a Marshall Memorial Fellow. Further Reading & ResourcesPopulari Think Tank: https://populari.org/en populari.orgIWM Europe's Futures Program (Alida Vračić profile): https://www.iwm.at/europes-futures/fellow/alida-vracic iwm.atECFR Profile (Alida Vračić): https://ecfr.eu/profile/alida-vracic ecfr.eu Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.For further information about the Institute:https://www.iwm.at/

To start of the episode, Adam and Alexandra talk about the prospect of foreign troop deployment in Ukraine, a historic border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, a further crackdown against opposition in Georgia, and the fleeing of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik to Moscow. Alexandra is then joined by policy analyst Alejandro Esteso Pérez, who specializes in the Western Balkans, EU enlargement, corruption, and authoritarianism. Alejandro shares findings from his latest research on how illiberal leaders in the region have instrumentalized and "illiberalized" the EU enlargement policy for their own, anti-democratic gains. You can check out his research on the subject here: https://www.europeum.org/en/articles-and-publications/policy-paper-illiberalising-eu-enlargement-to-the-western-balkans/In our bonus episode, Alexandra and Alejandro discuss the elections in Kosovo, which took place in February 2025, including what they could mean for domestic politics and the future of "normalization" talks with Serbia given the new geopolitical landscape in Europe and the US. Check out the bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-217-test-125838495

Current tectonic changes in Europe's security environment have opened the way for rethinking the EU enlargement process. Western Balkan countries are an immediate neighbour to the EU and their stability is of strategic importance. As their closest EU partner, Croatia strongly advocates for the European path of the Western Balkans countries and is committed to finding solutions to challenges in the accession processes. In this address as part of the IIEA's Future-Proofing Europe project, supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister Grlić Radman will tackle some of the focal challenges and questions on EU enlargement, as well as opportunities and possible ways forward. Speaker bio: Gordan Grlić Radman is the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, a post he has held since July 2019. Additionally, Minister Radman is also the President of the Danube Commission. Prior to his current position, he was Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Federal Republic of Germany from 2017 until 2019 and to Hungary from 2012 until 2017. He has also held a number of high-level roles within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Head of the Central European Department and Secretary General. Minister Radman holds a PhD from the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Zagreb.

Discussion Highlights:Europe's preparedness for a potential second Trump presidency.Challenges to EU strategic autonomy and transatlantic relations.The influence of defense contracts and energy dependencies on European policies.Internal EU struggles: technocracy versus democracy and stalled institutional reforms.Enlargement prospects in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe as pathways to rejuvenate the EU's global standing.Leadership and unity in the face of global instability.About Stefan Lehne:Stefan Lehne is a Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe, focusing on EU institutions, reforms, and foreign policy. His career spans multiple senior positions, including director general for political affairs at the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs, and he has extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy. Lehne has served in Austria's missions to the United Nations and the European Union and was involved in Austria's EU accession negotiations.Lehne's recent research explores European integration, strategic autonomy, and responses to global challenges. He also lectures at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and frequently contributes to policy discussions and publications. Lehne was a 2018/19 Europe's Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation.Recent Publications by Stefan Lehne:Charting the Radical Right's Influence on EU Foreign Policy (April 2024, with Rosa Balfour) – Carnegie EuropeThe Rules-Based Order vs. the Defense of Democracy (September 2024) – Carnegie EuropeEurope's New Leadership Faces a Teamwork Test (June 2024) – Carnegie EuropeEurope's Radical Right Is Formidable—but Not Unstoppable (April 2024) – Carnegie Europefind Stefan on X @StefanLehne Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.For further information about the Institute:https://www.iwm.at/

In this episode, Alexandra and Nina start off with updates about the massive pro-EU protests across Georgia, speak about the recent explosion in the northern part of Kosovo, and touch upon election-related developments in Romania and Bulgaria. They close with news from Croatia, where the Health Minister was arrested on corruption charges brought by the European Public Prosecutor's Office.Later, Adam is joined by Fatos Lubonja, a writer and critic based in Albania. Fatos is a significant voice in Albanian literature and intellectual circles, known for his piercing critiques of totalitarianism and staunch advocacy for democracy and human rights. They discuss his works which were not only published in Albanian but also in English and most recently in Polish. Fatos also discusses how the 17 years he spent in Albania's communist prisons has impacted his literature. Finally they talk about the current perspectives in Albania, including its EU integration.His book “Second Sentence. Inside the Albanian Gulag” can be found here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/second-sentence-9781845119249/You can watch the recent discussion at Columbia University on EU Enlargement in the context of Russia's war in Ukraine, featuring TEE's Alexandra and Adam, here: https://www.youtube.com/live/nhb6hlt5Rdk?si=PpAEgzxQIB4TfWJkBecome a patron, join us at: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

Following the adoption of the 2024 Enlargement Reports on 30 October 2024, DG Koopman provides an analysis from the perspective of the European Commission on the current state of play of EU enlargement. He examines the progress made by the partners from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova on their paths towards EU memberships. He also discusses the frozen negotiations with Türkiye and the halted accession process of Georgia in light of recent developments, in particular the adopted law on transparency of foreign influence. About the Speaker: Gert Jan Koopman has been the Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission since January 2023. Between 2018 and December 2022, he was the Director-General of the European Commission's budget department, where he contributed to putting in place the EU's €800 billion NextGenerationEU recovery plan as well as the €18 billion MFA+ for Ukraine.

The EU likes to underline that enlargement towards the east is a security priority. And indeed, since the war in Ukraine started, accession negotiations have begun with several countries, most of them in the Balkans. But in a shock referendum result, barely over 50 percent of voters in Moldova said Yes to pro-EU constitutional changes. And in another shock for Brussels, Georgian Dream beat the staunchly pro-European opposition in the parliamentary election in Georgia; a vote whose integrity the EU has called into question.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, host Ivan Vejvoda welcomes Nicole Koenig, Head of Policy at the Munich Security Conference, to discuss the evolving landscape of European security. Against the backdrop of the Russo-Ukrainian War and other global crises, they explore how the European Union has responded to these challenges with initiatives that include joint defense spending, the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in NATO, and the establishment of a European Defense Union. Koenig highlights the complexities of fostering deeper EU-NATO cooperation and overcoming political, legal, and financial barriers to a more integrated defense framework.Recorded just before Donald Trump's victory, they discuss the U.S. presidential election and it's impacts on European security policy. The conversation explores the necessity for Europe to take on a greater share of its defense responsibilities. Koenig underscores the strategic importance of unity in defense and the push for a more coherent security policy. Additionally, they touch on the geopolitical imperative of EU enlargement, particularly in light of the Russo-Ukrainian War and the broader European neighborhood's security dynamics.Finally, Koenig offers insights into her role at the Munich Security Conference, providing a preview of the key themes likely to shape the agenda, including transatlantic relations, regional conflicts, and emerging threats like AI and climate security. She emphasizes the importance of fostering dialogue to address these multifaceted challenges.Nicole Koenig is Head of Policy at the Munich Security Conference, where she oversees the development of the conference's strategic agenda and policy initiatives. She has extensive experience in EU foreign and security policy, particularly in the area of Franco-German cooperation. Prior to joining the MSC, she served as Deputy Director of the Jacques Delors Centre at the Hertie School in Berlin, where she focused on European integration and security issues. Koenig has held research positions at several prominent think tanks, including the Centre for European Policy Studies and the European Policy Centre, and has published widely on topics related to EU defense, NATO, and transatlantic relations. She frequently provides analysis for European and international media. She was a 2019/20 Europe's Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation.For more on Nicole Koenig and her work, visit https://securityconference.org/en/about-us/chairman-team/dr-nicole-koenig/You can follow her X account under @Nic_KoenigAn overview of the Munich Security Conference 2024 is at https://securityconference.org/en/msc-2024/ Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM Vienna) is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.For further information about the Institute:https://www.iwm.at/

We speak to one of the most seasoned players on the European stage, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. During his eight years in office, he has experienced the latter stages of the 2015-16 migrant crisis, the Covid pandemic, and the impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as overseeing his country's entry into the eurozone and the Schengen free-travel area. We discuss topical issues in the EU as well as in his region, particularly EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans.

Visegrad Insight Editor Staś Kaleta sits down with Rosa Balfour, Director at Carnegie Europe, during the Europe Future Forum to discuss the rising far-right in Europe, the EU's changing position in the world and the role enlargement has therein – as well as lots more from the latest ⁠Weekly Outlook⁠.  URL: https://visegradinsight.eu/austrian-far-right-victory-will-energise-central-european-nationalists/

Visegrad Insight Editor-in-Chief Wojciech Przybylski and Jacques Delors Centre Deputy Director Thu Nguyen discuss the prospects of EU enlargement over the next five years, ahead of our Europe Future Forum next week. Staś Kaleta then joins to discuss increasingly illiberal practices in Slovakia – and lots more from our latest Weekly Outlook.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, host Ivan Vejvoda is joined by Sławomir Sierakowski, a distinguished Polish sociologist, public intellectual, and founder of Kritika Polityczna. Together, they explore the current state of democracy in Europe amidst rising authoritarianism and populism. Sierakowski provides his insights on the recent European elections, Poland's return to democratic norms, and the implications of the Russo-Ukrainian War on European security and global politics.The conversation shifts towards the geopolitical dynamics in Asia, where Sierakowski discusses the weakening position of China under Xi Jinping, the challenges facing Taiwan, and the broader impact of Asian geopolitics on global security. He highlights the importance of Europe asserting itself more strongly on the global stage, particularly in response to both internal challenges like Hungary's populist leadership and external threats from authoritarian regimes.Sierakowski also shares his thoughts on the future of the European Union's enlargement, emphasizing the urgency of integrating Ukraine and other candidate countries into the EU. He argues for a more forceful European stance against Russian aggression, drawing parallels to historical appeasement policies that led to global conflict. The discussion concludes with a reflection on the growing uncertainty in global politics and the need for Europe to address these challenges decisively.Sławomir Sierakowski is a prominent Polish sociologist, public intellectual, and the founder of Kritika Polityczna. He is also a senior fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations and the president of the program board  of ImpactCEE.Read more from Kritika Polityczna @ krytykapolityczna.pl/Recent articles from Slawomir are listed @ German Council on Foreign Relations   Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.You can find IWM's website at:https://www.iwm.at/

How can we make EU Enlargement work? Tune into this episode of The European View Podcast with Teona Lavrelashvili and host Sara Pini as they explore the importance of a grass roots approach to the issue, and what that should look like. Discover more insights in the latest edition of The European View - Navigating demographic dynamics: Strategies for tomorrow - below: https://www.martenscentre.eu/publication/navigating-demographic-dynamics-strategies-for-tomorrow/ To stay up to date with all things Martens Centre, subscribe and visit our website: https://www.martenscentre.eu/ And our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martenscentre Twitter: https://twitter.com/MartensCentre Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martenscentre/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/marte... Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/martenscentre 00:00 - 00:48 : Introduction 00:49 – 04:56 : The challenges of EU Enlargement 04:57 – 07:40 : The New EU Composition's impact on enlargement 07:41 – 12:02 : The role of Euro Parties #thinkingtogether #FocusFuture #united4europe

FIRST HOUR #Markets: Liz Peek discusses how markets are weighing Trump's potential return and the debate's impact. #EU: Judy Dempsey of Carnegie Endowment discusses the need for EU enlargement and reform. SECOND HOUR #StateThinking: Mary Kissel analyzes the Biden administration's foreign policy weaknesses. #LondonCalling: Joseph Sternberg on the decline of Macron and the future of the Tories in the UK. THIRD HOUR #France: Gregory Copley discusses France's weakening position. #Bolivia: Gregory Copley on Bolivia's efforts to play the victim. #POTUS: Discussion on how adversaries and allies view a potential Trump return. #KingCharlesReport: Gregory Copley on King Charles in Australia. FOURTH HOUR #Israel: Peter Berkowitz discusses plans for the "Day After" in Gaza. #Gaza: Jonathan Schanzer analyzes the end of major combat and truce negotiations. #Iran: Jonathan Schanzer on Iran's threats ahead of a potential IDF operation in Lebanon. 1953

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations with Ivan Vejvoda, the host speaks with Erik Jones, director of the Schuman Center for Advanced Studies at the European University in Florence. Covering the rise of populism, nationalism, and identitarian politics in Europe and beyond, Jones argues that the current political disorder is neither new nor exceptional, drawing parallels to historical periods of economic success followed by political unrest. He emphasizes the significant role of rising inequality and economic uncertainty in driving people away from mainstream parties toward populist alternatives.Jones and Vejvoda explore the socioeconomic determinants influencing political dynamics, including the frustrations stemming from economic disparity and technological advancements,  the pendulum swing towards neoliberalism in the late 20th century; and its impact on current political structures and public dissatisfaction. Jones makes the case that mainstream political parties have failed to meet public expectations due to the limitations of post-neoliberal reforms.The dialogue concludes with a discussion on the challenges facing the European Union in maintaining democratic values amidst internal and external threats. Jones provides insights into the complexities of EU enlargement, particularly concerning Hungary and Poland, and stresses the importance of visionary leadership in shaping Europe's future. He warns against complacency and highlights the need for a proactive approach to sustain democratic institutions and counter authoritarian tendencies.Erik Jones is the Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute. Prior to this role, he was a Professor of European Studies and International Political Economy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He has authored numerous books including "The Oxford Handbook of the European Union" (2012) and "The Oxford Handbook of Italian Politics" (2015), is a co-editor of the journal "Government and Opposition" and a contributing editor for "Survival." His academic and public commentary has appeared in major publications including the Financial Times and the New York Times. His research interests cover a broad range of topics in European politics and political economy, including the crises in the European Union and the political dynamics of European integration​.Explore Erik's work @ cadmus.eui.euFind him on X @ej_europe Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.you can find IWM's website at:https://www.iwm.at/

This is an audio recording from the Centre for European Reform and the Delegation of the EU to the UK's discussion on 'Expanding Horizons: 20 years of EU membership – paving the path for future EU enlargement' with Amelia Hadfield, Head of Department of Politics & Founding Director at the University of Surrey, Simona Leskovar, Ambassador of Slovenia to the UK, and Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe. Pedro Serrano, EU Ambassador to the UK, gave some opening remarks and Ian Bond, Deputy Director at the Centre for European Reform, chaired the panel. Produced by Octavia Hughes

The Gaza flotilla activists stranded in Turkey, why Scotland's Humza Yousaf quit while Spain's Pedro Sanchez stays and media activists call for the right to information. Also: EU election season is officially under, why EU enlargement states have veered to the far-right, the end for Slovakia's public broadcaster, Venice's pay-to-get-in rule and Denmark cashes in on Sweden's Eurovision limelight.

In her speech, Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, State Secretary for Europe in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, focuses on Croatia's perspective on the forthcoming EU enlargement process, the institutional changes required to prepare the EU for enlargement, and the range of reforms to be implemented by the Western Balkan countries before accession, including the resolution of historical disputes. She also addresses the proposal of a so-called confidence clause for the region in the accession treaties, which would prevent a newly joined Member State from blocking the accession of another candidate country. Finally, she provides an assessment, ten years on, of how both Croatia and the EU have benefitted from the 2013 enlargement. About the Speaker: Andreja Metelko-Zgombić is the State Secretary for Europe at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia and holds a law degree. Prior to assuming this position in 2017, she held several prominent posts at the Ministry, including Chief Legal Adviser and Assistant Minister for European Law, International Law and Consular Affairs. Metelko-Zgombić is also the Senior Representative of the Republic of Croatia on the Standing Joint Committee on Succession Issues and the President of the Commission of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Borders.

In this episode, Federico and Arianna talk us through the history of the EU's enlargement as well as the ins and outs of this complicated process. Then,Liza Bezvershenko, from Promote Ukraine will talk us through her country's long history with the EU and its ongoing accession procedures. Music: Gleb Ragalevich

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has given EU enlargement new impetus, but obstacles to the Western Balkan countries' integration persist.Dimitar Bechev, senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, and Oana Popescu-Zamfir, director of the Bucharest-based think tank GlobalFocus Center, discuss the domestic dynamics in the region and how Brussels can encourage democratic reform.[00:00:00] Intro, [00:01:41] Where the Western Balkans Stand on the Road to the EU, [00:11:20] Obstacles to EU Enlargement, [00:18:35] Prospects for Western Balkan Countries' EU Accession.Dimitar Bechev, January 11, 2024, “Serbia's Authoritarian (Re)turn,” Carnegie Europe.Dimitar Bechev, December 5, 2023, “There Are No Quick Fixes for EU Enlargement,” Carnegie Europe.Dimitar Bechev, September 28, 2023, “The EU Cannot Give Up on Serbia and Kosovo,” Carnegie Europe.Dimitar Bechev, June 20, 2022, “What Has Stopped EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans?,” Carnegie Europe.Oana Popescu-Zamfir, Nikola Dimitrov, et al., June 2, 2023, “It's a Package Deal! Reforming and Enlarging the European Union in a Contested World,” Institute for Human Sciences.Oana Popescu-Zamfir, Rosa Balfour, et al., June 22, 2022, “What is to be done? The war, the Western Balkans and the EU,” Institute for Human Sciences.Oana Popescu-Zamfir and Zoran Nechev, May 3, 2022, “Time to Recognize Ukraine as European and Shake Up the EU Enlargement Process,” DGAP.

The European Union is currently debating the two inextricably connected issues of EU enlargement and reform. These discussions are taking place against the background of a challenging geopolitical situation with wars in the centre of Europe and in the Middle East. In her address to the IIEA as part of the Future Proofing Europe project supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dr Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate of Germany, presents her views on these questions and challenges facing Europe in a moment of global tumult. About the Speaker: Dr Anna Lührmann has been Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the German Federal Foreign Office and a Member of the Bundestag since 2021. Prior to her current role, she was Deputy Director of the Varieties of Democracy Institute and Junior Professor at the University of Gothenburg and was a consultant to the United Nations Development Programme. She holds a PhD in politics from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

In today's episode of The International Risk Podcast, we turn our attention to the intricate and dynamic process of EU enlargement in the Balkans. The region, known for its complex political and ethnic landscape, is at a pivotal moment in its integration into the European Union. We will explore the influence of the EU's policies on the Balkans, the socio-economic and political hurdles faced by countries in the region, and the broader geopolitical consequences of their potential accession to the EU. This discussion is timely and critical, as the stability and future of the Balkans are not just regional but also global concerns that touch on issues of democracy, security, and international cooperation. We are privileged to welcome Dr. Alexander Mesarovich a scholar with an extensive background in the politics of EU enlargement. Dr. Mesarovich's research into the influence of informal political networks on accession processes provides us with a unique lens through which to examine the ongoing transformations in the Balkans. With his postdoctoral work at the European University Institute focusing on the diffusion of illiberalism and populism, Dr. Mesarovich offers invaluable insights into the current challenges and future prospects of EU enlargement policy. 

In this special year-end episode, our Beyond the Byline podcast, together with Euractiv's Alexandra Brzozowski, Benjamin Fox and Julia Tar, takes a closer look at the key topics that shaped our coverage throughout the past 12 months.As 2023 bids us farewell we look at its impact not only for the European Union and its policies but for the entire globe. The ongoing war in Ukraine continued to command our attention in 2023, underscoring the geopolitical tensions that persist in the region. But this year, a new war emerged in Gaza, further highlighting the complex challenges faced by the international community.This year, the EU remained committed to supporting Ukraine, opening accession talks, and advancing its enlargement policy. A notable shift occurred as more member countries elected right-wing governments, sparking discussions on evolving dynamics.The year concluded with the introduction of a migration pact, which pushed for comprehensive and EU-level solutions to processing new arrivals. Beyond Brussels, concerns arose about journalists and politicians falling victim to spyware, prompting the European Commission to advocate for increased regulation to safeguard privacy and security.

Last week European leaders focused on EU enlargement, from the Western Balkans to Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. While the EU wants closer ties with these countries, it has also made it clear that it expects reforms, particularly when it comes to issues related to the rule of law and justice. Dimitar Bechev, a research fellow at Carnegie Europe, where he focuses on Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe and a lecturer at Oxford's School of Global and Area Studies, joins Thanos Davelis to look at these latest developments, and break down why he believes there are no quick fixes for EU enlargement.Read Dimitar Bechev's latest here: There Are No Quick Fixes for EU EnlargementYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:EU wants closer ties to Western Balkans but expects reformGreece passes 2024 budget forecasting higher growthGreek parliament passes government's 2024 budgetUS top diplomat Blinken ups pressure on Turkey to secure Sweden's NATO bidTurkey calls on U.S. to use influence to halt Israeli attacks on Gaza -Turkish source

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) welcomes Heather Grabbe, a Senior Fellow at Bruegel, a Visiting Professor at University College London and KU Leuven, and a former director of the Open Society European Policy Institute in Brussels. They talk about the rule of law conditionality vis-à-vis EU candidate countries, why the EU was unable to discipline its member states on the rule of law issues, what is the way forward for the new European Commission on the rule of law, and why member states should be engaged in this process. This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.

Minister of State for European Affairs & Defence Peter Burke

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Charles Grant, director at the CER, and Camino Mortera-Martinez, head of the CER's Brussels office, join senior research fellow Luigi Scazzieri to discuss the prospects for EU enlargement and institutional reform. Produced by Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's episode of Keeping an Eye on the Geopolitical Ball, Jamie Shea, Senior Fellow at Friends of Europe, discusses the implications of the European Commission's 2023 Enlargement Package adopted last week. The report recommends to open membership negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as continue negotiations with existing candidates such as Turkey. Previous enlargement fatigue has been shaken up by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, demonstrating the pressing issue of grey zones in the EU's neighbourhood. Jamie therefore outlines several recommendations the EU ought to consider when faced with one of the biggest challenges in its history.

Albin Sybera discusses with Faris Kočan - assistant professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana and author of the forthcoming book "Identity, Ontological Security and Europeanisation in Republika Srpska" - the recent EU enlargement report. The report attempts to balance the strategic need to integrate the Western Balkans (WB) and the reforms WB countries need to carry out. Interesting to note are the shared regional narratives prolific in the WB ahead of the 17 December elections in Serbia.

This week the Beyond the Byline podcast looks at Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's tour of the Western Balkans.The EU executive chief talked to leaders of Western Balkans countries to encourage their governments to continue their hard work to meet EU membership standards, while warning that many are falling short of the requirements, and Brussels' newfound appetite for enlargement might not last forever.The six Western Balkan states of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are all aspiring EU members. Accession for any of them looked a distant prospect until Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last spring got Brussels talking seriously about enlarging the EU again.

In this debate we delve into the latest tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, and discuss how they could affect the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to come closer to the European Union. We also look at what is happening around Ukraine's efforts to join the EU, and what signals the EU Council should send to Kyiv at its upcoming summits this autumn and winter.

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Camino Mortera-Martinez, head of the CER Brussels office, and Luigi Scazzieri, senior research fellow, join podcast host, Octavia Hughes, to discuss EU enlargement, the EPC and migration policy. They set out the successes and failures of the EPC summit in Granada and the subsequent informal meeting of EU leaders. Camino explains why migration is back at the top of the EU's agenda and Luigi sheds some light on the catch-22 of Ukraine's EU membership. Produced by Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

How can a much bigger European Union function effectively? Will key national interests be overridden for the benefit of collective decision-making? How should European institutions and budgets adapt to a union of more than 30 members? These are some of the big questions that European leaders are currently mulling over. For more, Talking Europe hosts Daniela Schwarzer, the co-rapporteur of a new report: "Sailing on High Seas: Reforming and Enlarging the EU for the 21st Century". She is a member of the working group convened in 2023 by the French and German governments on reforming the EU.

In his remarks, Dr Bassuener focuses on the EU's relationship with the Western Balkans in advance of the country reports which will be published in October 2023. Dr Bassuener's contention is that, writ broadly, the political elites of the region have demonstrated that they do not want to do the heavy lifting regarding EU accession. Yet, according to Dr Bassuener, the EU's interest in the region remains its desire to demonstrate its transformative power and geopolitical potency. Overall, in his discussion, Dr Bassuener argues that enlargement should not be abandoned, but rather there should be a reassessment of who the primary EU partners need to be – the citizens of the region. About the Speaker: Kurt Bassuener is a Co-Founder and Senior Associate of the Democratization Policy Council, a Berlin-based think-tank established in 2005. He received his PhD in 2021 from the University of St. Andrews' Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence. Dr Bassuener is co-author and research director for the Diplomat's Handbook for Democracy Development Support. Prior to studying at St. Andrews, he lived for 11 years in Sarajevo, starting in 2005 as a strategist for then-High Representative, Paddy Ashdown. He was a political and campaign analyst for the OSCE-ODIHR election observation mission in Ukraine in 2004–2005, and previously conducted analysis-based advocacy in Washington D.C. for the Balkan Institute, the Balkan Action Council, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the International Rescue Committee.

This week, EURACTIV's Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the EU's enlargement strategy.With Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine bringing the topic of EU enlargement back into sharp focus, the next political season could be crunch time for decisions that will shape the Union of the future.EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi stated that enlargement by 2030 is possible, but depends on efforts from both candidate countries and the EU. The European Commission plans to make significant proposals in October, including a Growth Plan to increase investment in the Western Balkans. But what is the plan, and what are the key dates to look out for regarding decision-making?

Suzanne Lynch talks to Eamon about President of the European Council Charles Michel's speech outlining the need for enlargement of the EU by 2030. Suzanne and Eamon discuss the challenges of such a move. Suzanne Lynch is Chief Brussels Correspondent for Politico and was formerly a correspondent in Washington.Recorded on Tuesday 29th August 2023. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-stand-with-eamon-dunphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes Laia Comerma, she is a Ph.D. student at the Pompeu Fabra University, Researcher at the Barcelona Institute of International Studies, and policy officer at LYMEC. They talk about the policy paper that Laia wrote for ELF titled "EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans. The Effects of Chinese Investment". This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes Vesna Pusic, a social scientist, academic, political analyst, and former Minister of Foreign & European Affairs for Croatia, and Emil Kirjas, founder of Kirjas Global, Vice President of Liberal International, and former State Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia. They continue the conversation about the EU Enlargement to the Western Balkans, and how to have a strong EU in the new world order. This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.

Weekly outlook by Galan Dall and Albin Sybera: Israeli-style security guarantees likely to be offered to Ukraine at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, as well as a "pathway" for Ukraine to join the alliance. President Zelenskyy's trip through Central Europe (CE) not only showcased Ukraine's adeptness in combating Russian disinformation narratives, but his speeches suggest an awareness of how these campaigns are targeting elections in CE. Special guests - Editor-in-chief Wojciech Przybylski, Vice President Magda Jakubowska and Visegrad Insight Fellow Jan Farfal sit down with Visegrad Insight Fellow Pavel Havliček and Assistant to the Czech Deputy Minister of European Affairs Marek Bičan to discuss the urgency for EU enlargement.

In this week's episode Ivan Vejvoda sits down with European Stability Initiative deputy chairman and Europe's Futures fellow Kristof Bender to discuss a policy that many point to as among the most successful peace projects in the history of the world: EU enlargement. As the Union decides whether and how quickly to extend EU membership to Ukraine and Molodova and formalize their move towards Europe in response to the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kristof and Ivan lead us through the history of the policy and its transformative effect on those countries who have joined the bloc, then ask why the policy seems to have stalled in recent years. Does it make sense to extend membership to new countries for geopolitical reasons? Or should the process be purely meritocratic? Is there a new approach that would offer a clear incentive to candidate countries to make necessary improvements that could sidestep internal EU politics?As deputy chairman of the ESI Kristof Bender has lead various research projects on EU enlargement and on South Eastern Europe. He has worked in South East Europe in various capacities since 1997, including managing higher education projects in Bosnia for the World University Service, serving as Attaché for Humanitarian Affairs in the Austrian Embassy in Belgrade, and working as a researcher for the International Centre for Migration Policy Development . He has also worked as a consultant for various institutions, including the Austrian Federal Chancellery, DFID, and SIDA.Find him on twitter @kristofbenderIvan Vejvoda  is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM where, in cooperation with leading European organisations and think tanks IWM and ERSTE Foundation have joined forces to tackle some of the most crucial topics: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an independent institute for advanced study in the humanities and social sciences. Since its foundation in 1982, it has promoted intellectual exchange between East and West, between academia and society, and between a variety of disciplines and schools of thought. In this way, the IWM has become a vibrant center of intellectual life in Vienna.The IWM is a community of scholars pursuing advanced research in the humanities and social sciences. For nearly four decades, the Institute has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions of the world. It hosts more than a hundred fellows each year, organizes public exchanges, and publishes books, articles, and digital fora. you can find IWM's website at:https://www.iwm.at/

As the war in Ukraine rages on, calls for EU enlargement have returned to the top of the political agenda. To explore the future of European integration, the team travels to the Globsec 2023 Bratislava Forum to speak to European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, Bosnia and Herzegovina's minister of foreign affairs, Elmedin Konaković, and journalist Suzanne Lynch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Ivan Vejvoda is joined by Johns Hopkins University - School of Advanced International Studies adjunct professor and former foreign policy advisor to the Romanian presidential administration Veronica Anghel to discuss the state of EU enlargement policy in 2023. As the continent redefines itself, its security and its long-term objectives in the shadow of the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, what is the state of play for candidate countries seeking to join the European Union? Will this prove to be a moment when the expansion of the EU's border to encompass Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans - a project that many considered stalled -can be revived? How have the requirements for entry and justification for enlargement changed since the fall of communism in the early 90s? Are unresolved border questions and the rise of right wing populism affecting the way that the EU27 approaches these questions? Veronica Anghel is a Lecturer in Risk in International Politics and Economics at Johns Hopkins University and a Visiting Fellow at the European University Institute EUI. She has held research fellowships at several institutions, including Stanford University and the Institute for Central Europe. She is a 'Robert Elgie' Editorial Fellow with the 'Government and Opposition' journal. Dr. Anghel received her PhD from the University of Bucharest in co-direction with the University of Bordeaux. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Anghel has served as a foreign affairs advisor for the Romanian Presidential Administration and a Diplomatic Adviser for the Romanian Senate. She provides risk analysis for consultancy firms on topics such as European integration and rule of law issues in post-communist Europe. In 2020, Dr. Anghel was awarded the ‘Rising Star' Award by the European Consortium of Political Research. She is a Europe's Futures fellow at IWM this year.Find Veronica on Twitter @anghel_v1Ivan Vejvoda  is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM where, in cooperation with leading European organisations and think tanks IWM and ERSTE Foundation have joined forces to tackle some of the most crucial topics: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an independent institute for advanced study in the humanities and social sciences. Since its foundation in 1982, it has promoted intellectual exchange between East and West, between academia and society, and between a variety of disciplines and schools of thought. In this way, the IWM has become a vibrant center of intellectual life in Vienna.The IWM is a community of scholars pursuing advanced research in the humanities and social sciences. For nearly four decades, the Institute has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions of the world. It hosts more than a hundred fellows each year, organizes public exchanges, and publishes books, articles, and digital fora. you can find IWM's website at:https://www.iwm.at/  

Polish veto of the combustion engine ban. Eight PMs from CEE write an open letter against the CEOs of the largest social media companies to do more to fight disinformation. European cohesion with the ammunition plan for Ukraine. How the indictment of former President Trump looks for the CEE community. In the second part of the podcast, Marcin Krol Fellow Jan Farfal sits down with Nikola Dimitrov, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, to discuss the future of EU enlargement in the context of a Europe shaped by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is urging the EU to send a strong signal to the Western Balkans at an upcoming summit in Albania on December 6. "Young people from those countries are hungry for the EU," she says, and the EU "should not turn away from them". But as several of those countries sat in the waiting room for years, disillusionment set in. This summer, Albania and North Macedonia did start accession talks, but questions remain as to whether enlargement really is a priority for the EU. We discuss what's at stake with two MEPs.

In her third State of the Union Address on 14 September 2022, President von der Leyen will set out the EU's response to the political, economic, social and energy-related consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and set out the Union's policy priorities for the coming year. To mark this speech, the European Commission Representation in Ireland, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland and the IIEA hosts a live-stream of the address, followed by a hybrid panel discussion with EU experts analysing President von der Leyen's address. About the Speakers: Senator Alice-Mary Higgins is an independent senator in Seanad Éireann where she leads the Civil Engagement Group and serves on the Committees for Environment and Climate Action, Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, and on Disability Matters. She was policy coordinator at the National Women's Council of Ireland, member of the Executive of the European Women's Lobby in Brussels, and worked for the Older and Bolder alliance, Trócaire and Comhlámh NGOs on homecare, climate change, peace-building, and anti-racism issues. Brigid Laffan is Emerita Professor of political science, focusing on European integration. She has recently concluding her mandate as Director of the Robert Schuman Centre at the European University Institute (EUI). Before this, she was Professor of European Politics, Vice-President of UCD and Principal of the College of Human Sciences from 2004-2011. Professor John O'Brennan is Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration and Director of the Maynooth Centre for European and Eurasian Studies at Maynooth University. He is an internationally recognised expert on EU Enlargement policy, post-accession processes, ­­­­­­and the EU in the Western Balkans. David O'Sullivan is the IIEA Director General and Chair of the European Policy Centre's (EPC) Governing Board. He is also a former Secretary-General (2000-2005) and Director-General of DG Trade (2005-2010) of the European Commission. In a distinguished public service career over 30 years, he most recently served as the Ambassador of the EU to the United States (2014-2019). Before this, he was Chief Operating Officer in the European External Action Service (EEAS) and was responsible for establishing the EU's diplomatic service. Since his retirement from the public sector, he currently serves as a Senior Counsellor with Steptoe & Johnson LLP. The discussion was moderated by Dearbhail McDonald, journalist, author, and broadcaster.

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) welcomes Stefan Lehne, Senior fellow at Carnegie Europe in Brussels, where his research focuses on the post–Lisbon Treaty development of the European Union's foreign policy, with a specific focus on relations between the EU and member states. They talk about EU foreign policy, the European response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, why the EU Council should turn to majority voting on foreign policy, and how to adapt EU institutions to the tasks ahead in light of the prospective enlargement. Find out more about the guest: https://carnegieeurope.eu/experts/634 This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of it.

In this week's podcast:

Balázs Sean Brandt president of the Young European Federalists of Hungary talks about the pressing issues of European youth such as Democracy, Rule of Law, etc. The response of the new generation to the rise in authoritarian figures across the EU, as well as the expansion of the European Union's member states, with a focus on Moldova and Ukraine, are also topics in today's episode of the Central European Affairs podcast.Host: Robert Dirk Giese

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) welcomes Dimitar Bechev, Lecturer Oxford School of Global & Area Studies and a Visiting Scholar of Carnegie Europe. They talk about the Balkans in the context of the EU enlargement, the current situation in respective potential candidates, opportunities and threats resulting from premature entry into the EU, and the prospects for further European integration. Find out more about the guest: https://ces.fas.harvard.edu/people/002283-dimitar-bechev This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of it.

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes MEP Urmas Paet, from the Eesti Reformierakond Party in Estonia, and the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. They go into the actual crises in Europe, how can Russia change and how the EU expansion process will go for new (and longer status) country candidates.  This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of it.

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Leszek Jażdżewski (Fundacja Liberté!) welcomes Gerald Knaus, the founding European Stability Initiative's (ESI) founding chairman and a founding member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. They talk about the enlargement policy of the European Union, new potential EU members, the "New Cold War", and the future of the European project. Find out more about the guest: https://www.esiweb.org/esi-staff/gerald-knaus This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of it.

The European Union has become a focal point for the pushback against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It now has a greater focus on European defence and security with more states wanting to join. Meanwhile the war in Ukraine continues with no diplomatic solution in sight and no-one sure of Russia's ultimate goal.

The war in Ukraine has forced a major rethink of European security, with further enlargement of both NATO and the EU now on the table. Kyiv has asked for a fast-track procedure for EU membership. Moldova and Georgia have also applied. The EU has made it clear that Ukraine belongs to the European family. However, admitting several more nations would be highly challenging. And even before the war, the EU was already negotiating with candidate countries Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. We discuss how far the EU should grow, and how fast that process should be, with two MEPs.

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes Dr Antonios Nestoras, the Policy and Research Coordinator at the Policy and Research Unit, inside the European Liberal Forum. They talk about the work done by the Unit, an in particular for this conversation, the Working Group Foreign Affairs, Neighbourhood and Enlargement. This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of it.

#378 EU Enlargement celebration Day, call for #EU37

"The rule of law is a means by which [western EU members] want to knead us into something that resembles them," warned Viktor Orbán during his successful campaign for a fourth consecutive term as Hungary's prime minister. Yet, until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU has held back on the demands it makes of members regarding core democratic norms and values. For a decade, the EU's institutions and most of its members have worried about the possibility of the emergence of a full autocracy within its borders but have been held back by diplomatic interests and the constraints imposed by unanimity in the use of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. The war, Orbán's re-election, a split in the Polish-Hungarian axis, and the lengthening queue of eastern membership applicants have changed the backdrop. The political will to ensure a liberal-democratic union has been reinforced but Article 7 is still inadequate to the task. Tom Theuns, assistant professor of political theory and European politics at Leiden University's Institute of Political Science, has a nuclear option in his new paper: The Need for an EU Expulsion Mechanism: Democratic Backsliding and the Failure of Article 7 (Res Publica, Springer - 2022)*. *https://link.springer.com/arti... Mentioned: Memory and the future of Europe: Rupture and integration in the wake of total war by Peter Verovšek (Manchester University Press, 2020) and Adding a Bite to a Bark? A Story of Article 7, the EU Enlargement, and Jörg Haider by Wojciech Sadurski (Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 10/01) *The authors' book recommendations are: Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics by Christopher Bickerton and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti (OUP Oxford, 2021) and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little Brown, 2013). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors (a division of Energy Aspects). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

"The rule of law is a means by which [western EU members] want to knead us into something that resembles them," warned Viktor Orbán during his successful campaign for a fourth consecutive term as Hungary's prime minister. Yet, until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU has held back on the demands it makes of members regarding core democratic norms and values. For a decade, the EU's institutions and most of its members have worried about the possibility of the emergence of a full autocracy within its borders but have been held back by diplomatic interests and the constraints imposed by unanimity in the use of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. The war, Orbán's re-election, a split in the Polish-Hungarian axis, and the lengthening queue of eastern membership applicants have changed the backdrop. The political will to ensure a liberal-democratic union has been reinforced but Article 7 is still inadequate to the task. Tom Theuns, assistant professor of political theory and European politics at Leiden University's Institute of Political Science, has a nuclear option in his new paper: The Need for an EU Expulsion Mechanism: Democratic Backsliding and the Failure of Article 7 (Res Publica, Springer - 2022)*. *https://link.springer.com/arti... Mentioned: Memory and the future of Europe: Rupture and integration in the wake of total war by Peter Verovšek (Manchester University Press, 2020) and Adding a Bite to a Bark? A Story of Article 7, the EU Enlargement, and Jörg Haider by Wojciech Sadurski (Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 10/01) *The authors' book recommendations are: Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics by Christopher Bickerton and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti (OUP Oxford, 2021) and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little Brown, 2013). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors (a division of Energy Aspects). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

"The rule of law is a means by which [western EU members] want to knead us into something that resembles them," warned Viktor Orbán during his successful campaign for a fourth consecutive term as Hungary's prime minister. Yet, until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU has held back on the demands it makes of members regarding core democratic norms and values. For a decade, the EU's institutions and most of its members have worried about the possibility of the emergence of a full democracy within its borders but have been held back by diplomatic interests and the constraints imposed by unanimity in the use of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. The war, Orbán's re-election, a split in the Polish-Hungarian axis, and the lengthening queue of eastern membership applicants have changed the backdrop. The political will to ensure a liberal-democratic union has been reinforced but Article 7 is still inadequate to the task. Tom Theuns, assistant professor of political theory and European politics at Leiden University's Institute of Political Science, has a nuclear option in his new paper: The Need for an EU Expulsion Mechanism: Democratic Backsliding and the Failure of Article 7 (Res Publica, Springer - 2022)*. *https://link.springer.com/arti... Mentioned: Memory and the future of Europe: Rupture and integration in the wake of total war by Peter Verovšek (Manchester University Press, 2020) and Adding a Bite to a Bark? A Story of Article 7, the EU Enlargement, and Jörg Haider by Wojciech Sadurski (Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 10/01) *The authors' book recommendations are: Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics by Christopher Bickerton and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti (OUP Oxford, 2021) and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little Brown, 2013). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors (a division of Energy Aspects). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

"The rule of law is a means by which [western EU members] want to knead us into something that resembles them," warned Viktor Orbán during his successful campaign for a fourth consecutive term as Hungary's prime minister. Yet, until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU has held back on the demands it makes of members regarding core democratic norms and values. For a decade, the EU's institutions and most of its members have worried about the possibility of the emergence of a full autocracy within its borders but have been held back by diplomatic interests and the constraints imposed by unanimity in the use of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. The war, Orbán's re-election, a split in the Polish-Hungarian axis, and the lengthening queue of eastern membership applicants have changed the backdrop. The political will to ensure a liberal-democratic union has been reinforced but Article 7 is still inadequate to the task. Tom Theuns, assistant professor of political theory and European politics at Leiden University's Institute of Political Science, has a nuclear option in his new paper: The Need for an EU Expulsion Mechanism: Democratic Backsliding and the Failure of Article 7 (Res Publica, Springer - 2022)*. *https://link.springer.com/arti... Mentioned: Memory and the future of Europe: Rupture and integration in the wake of total war by Peter Verovšek (Manchester University Press, 2020) and Adding a Bite to a Bark? A Story of Article 7, the EU Enlargement, and Jörg Haider by Wojciech Sadurski (Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 10/01) *The authors' book recommendations are: Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics by Christopher Bickerton and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti (OUP Oxford, 2021) and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little Brown, 2013). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors (a division of Energy Aspects). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

"The rule of law is a means by which [western EU members] want to knead us into something that resembles them," warned Viktor Orbán during his successful campaign for a fourth consecutive term as Hungary's prime minister. Yet, until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU has held back on the demands it makes of members regarding core democratic norms and values. For a decade, the EU's institutions and most of its members have worried about the possibility of the emergence of a full autocracy within its borders but have been held back by diplomatic interests and the constraints imposed by unanimity in the use of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. The war, Orbán's re-election, a split in the Polish-Hungarian axis, and the lengthening queue of eastern membership applicants have changed the backdrop. The political will to ensure a liberal-democratic union has been reinforced but Article 7 is still inadequate to the task. Tom Theuns, assistant professor of political theory and European politics at Leiden University's Institute of Political Science, has a nuclear option in his new paper: The Need for an EU Expulsion Mechanism: Democratic Backsliding and the Failure of Article 7 (Res Publica, Springer - 2022)*. *https://link.springer.com/arti... Mentioned: Memory and the future of Europe: Rupture and integration in the wake of total war by Peter Verovšek (Manchester University Press, 2020) and Adding a Bite to a Bark? A Story of Article 7, the EU Enlargement, and Jörg Haider by Wojciech Sadurski (Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 10/01) *The authors' book recommendations are: Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics by Christopher Bickerton and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti (OUP Oxford, 2021) and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little Brown, 2013). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors (a division of Energy Aspects). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law

"The rule of law is a means by which [western EU members] want to knead us into something that resembles them," warned Viktor Orbán during his successful campaign for a fourth consecutive term as Hungary's prime minister. Yet, until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU has held back on the demands it makes of members regarding core democratic norms and values. For a decade, the EU's institutions and most of its members have worried about the possibility of the emergence of a full autocracy within its borders but have been held back by diplomatic interests and the constraints imposed by unanimity in the use of Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. The war, Orbán's re-election, a split in the Polish-Hungarian axis, and the lengthening queue of eastern membership applicants have changed the backdrop. The political will to ensure a liberal-democratic union has been reinforced but Article 7 is still inadequate to the task. Tom Theuns, assistant professor of political theory and European politics at Leiden University's Institute of Political Science, has a nuclear option in his new paper: The Need for an EU Expulsion Mechanism: Democratic Backsliding and the Failure of Article 7 (Res Publica, Springer - 2022)*. *https://link.springer.com/arti... Mentioned: Memory and the future of Europe: Rupture and integration in the wake of total war by Peter Verovšek (Manchester University Press, 2020) and Adding a Bite to a Bark? A Story of Article 7, the EU Enlargement, and Jörg Haider by Wojciech Sadurski (Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 10/01) *The authors' book recommendations are: Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics by Christopher Bickerton and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti (OUP Oxford, 2021) and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little Brown, 2013). Tim Gwynn Jones is an economic and political-risk analyst at Medley Advisors (a division of Energy Aspects). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Stefan Füle and FEPS Secretary General László Andor analyse in this episode the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the consequences for the European Union. They argue that the common answer given by the member states will eventually make the EU stronger. Strategic autonomy will mean that the EU becomes a more united and autonomous actor with a global role. Füle and Andor also discuss the future of EU enlargement and what could potentially change in the accession process. They also assess the role of EU diplomacy in the current conflict and look back to some previous episodes of the EU-Russia relations. A key conclusion is that the war and the united European response will make the EU rethink its defense strategy and a new continental security architecture will emerge.

Contribute your ideas to the Conference on the Future of Europe here!In series two of Global Europe Unpacked, commonspace.eu is collaborating with the City of The Hague to bring you several conversations looking at the future of Europe in the world. This series runs alongside the EU's largest citizen consultation to date, the Conference on the Future of Europe. Our objective is to spark your interest in some of the important issues under discussion and encourage you to get involved.The topic of European Union enlargement encapsulates more than any other topic the interaction between the processes going on inside the European Union with those outside of it. It is discussed often in response to questions that go to the heart of the European project: Should the EU be considering new members, or should it consolidate first? What makes a country European? The question, ‘where does Europe end?', has been asked repeatedly over the last three decades but never properly answered. For a long time, expansion was the central foreign policy tool for the EU but now some in the bloc are very much against it.In this episode, Will Murray speaks to the Ambassador of Georgia to the Netherlands, His Excellency David Solomonia, about why his country is set on joining the European Union, why it should be allowed to, and why Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova – or the “Associated Trio” – signed an agreement with each other last year to co-operate on EU accession.  We then hear an academic perspective of the different considerations associated with EU enlargement from Professor Antoaneta Dimitrova – a Professor of Comparative Governance at Leiden University.Amongst other things, this episode discusses:Why Georgia, as an aspiring member, wants to join the EU and why, from the Georgian perspective, it should be welcomed;The Associated Trio – Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine;How the EU has historically responded to those that wished to join the bloc;The general reasons given for and against EU enlargement;What lessons previous rounds of EU enlargement have shown us about best practices;Whether we should allow candidates to join the EU faster for geopolitical reasons; andWhat considerations the EU member states themselves should have when it comes to EU enlargement.It should be noted that these conversations were recorded before Russia's invaded Ukraine on 24 February.

Two sections from 'Ever Closer Union', a textbook on the operations of the EU. I've selected these sections due to their relevance to ongoing events in Ukraine and he fact that the Ukraine was offered membership in the EU yesterday (02/03/2022).

Zoran Nechev heads the Center for EU integration at the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” Skopje, a Macedonian think tank organisation devoted to research and capacity-building in matters related to EU in general, and the enlargement process more specifically. He is an IWM Europe's Futures fellow, a member of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group, a PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit's Institute for European Studies and an associate fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations.Boiling down the definition of strategic autonomy to the EU's 'freedom to act, and the freedom from overdependence' - Nechev and Vejvoda use this podcast to explore the necessity for, logistics of and limits on European autonomy. As various crises have rocked the foundations of the EU, shifts in the geopolitical status quo have raised questions about the potency of NATO and the process of EU enlargement has proceeded in fits and starts; they look to the future and ask what EU security policy might look like a decade from now.Find Zoran Nechev on twitter @zorannechevIvan Vejvoda  is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM where, in cooperation with leading European organisations and think tanks IWM and ERSTE Foundation have joined forces to tackle some of the most crucial topics: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an independent institute for advanced study in the humanities and social sciences. Since its foundation in 1982, it has promoted intellectual exchange between East and West, between academia and society, and between a variety of disciplines and schools of thought. In this way, the IWM has become a vibrant center of intellectual life in Vienna.The IWM is a community of scholars pursuing advanced research in the humanities and social sciences. For nearly four decades, the Institute has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions of the world. It hosts more than a hundred fellows each year, organizes public exchanges, and publishes books, articles, and digital fora. you can find IWM's website at:https://www.iwm.at/

#331 One EU Enlargement summit for EU 37 now

#323 Appeal to PM Janez Jansa for EU enlargement

The Eurointelligence team discusses Scotland's prospects for independence and for EU membership, and Keir Starmer's uncertain future.

#284 Celebrate Amazing EU Enlargement Day 2004

#280 GDP Net Capita success of EU Enlargement 2004

#281 Moral & Historic dimension of EU Enlargement 04

In this fortnight's Vienna Coffee House Conversation, Ivan Vejvoda speaks to EU diplomat and academic Julia De Clerck-Sachsse about the power of narratives to shape policy and the future of the European project. Was Barack Obama right to say that "perhaps [Europe needs] an outsider, somebody who is not European, to remind [it] of the magnitude of what [it has] achieved"? As enlargement proceeds and threats to the democratic order arise, is Europe able to tell itself the stories that it needs to face up to new challenges?A diplomat and an academic, Julia De Clerck-Sachsse served as the speechwriter and communications adviser to EU High Representatives for Foreign and Security Policy, Lady Catherine Ashton and Federica Mogherini. She is leading a research project at Oxford University on the EU's geopolitical narrative and works on transatlantic relations, EU foreign and security policy; also a foreign-policy Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. She is a 2020/21 “Europe's Futures” fellow of the Institute for Human Sciences and ERSTE Foundation.Julia De Clerck-Sachsse is on Linkedin. find her writing at GMF and a list of her academic papers at researchgate. Read her recent paper on how the EU can win the battle of narratives here.Ivan Vejvoda  is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM where, in cooperation with leading European organisations and think tanks IWM and ERSTE Foundation have joined forces to tackle some of the most crucial topics: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an independent institute for advanced study in the humanities and social sciences. Since its foundation in 1982, it has promoted intellectual exchange between East and West, between academia and society, and between a variety of disciplines and schools of thought. In this way, the IWM has become a vibrant center of intellectual life in Vienna.The IWM is a community of scholars pursuing advanced research in the humanities and social sciences. For nearly four decades, the Institute has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions of the world. It hosts more than a hundred fellows each year, organizes public exchanges, and publishes books, articles, and digital fora. you can find IWM's website at:https://www.iwm.at/ 

Time for EU 37 - EU Enlargement Ukraine 2929

EU History 15 to 25

EU 25 to EU 28

Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia in EU30 by 2024 and Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia in 2029

59 History of EU Enlargement from 6 to 9 in 1973

60 EU Enlargement History from 9 to 12

Srdjan Cvijic is on twitter @srdjancvijic.  Dr. Cvijic is frequently sought out by the media and has published extensively, in both academic and policy format, on EU foreign relations and the politics of the Balkans  Previously Dr. Cvijic was a senior diplomat posted in the missions of the Republic of Serbia in Belgium and the Netherlands. Dr. Cvijic also worked as the advisor for the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, European Policy Centre and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.Find more of his work at Euractiv and Poiltico.Ivan Vejvoda  is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM where, in cooperation with leading European organisations and think tanks IWM and ERSTE Foundation have joined forces to tackle some of the most crucial topics: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union's enlargement prospects.The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an independent institute for advanced study in the humanities and social sciences. Since its foundation in 1982, it has promoted intellectual exchange between East and West, between academia and society, and between a variety of disciplines and schools of thought. In this way, the IWM has become a vibrant center of intellectual life in Vienna.The IWM is a community of scholars pursuing advanced research in the humanities and social sciences. For nearly four decades, the Institute has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions of the world. It hosts more than a hundred fellows each year, organizes public exchanges, and publishes books, articles, and digital fora. you can find IWM's website at:https://www.iwm.at/

In this episode, Sofia and Bruna discuss the EU enlargement, what are the states which are more far ahead in adhering to integrating the European Union, and what are some of the steps still for those to accomplish membership.