The Jacques Delors Centre in Berlin, the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris, and the Centre for Contemporary Politics invite you to a public event on the future of EU enlargement and its role in strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and democratic resilience in the Western Balkans.
At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe, EU enlargement has regained strategic importance. The protection of democracy, the rule of law, media freedom, and resilience to corruption are central benchmarks for assessing candidate states and key drivers of the European Union’s renewed willingness to integrate new members. At the same time, public support for further enlargement within the EU will largely depend on candidates’ credible commitment to these values.
Yet recent developments in the Western Balkans raise concerns about whether the accession process consistently strengthens democracy. As the current geopolitical context increases pressure to integrate new members more quickly, an important question emerges: How can the EU ensure that enlargement remains a genuine driver of democratic consolidation?
To discuss this question, the Jacques Delors Centre in Berlin, the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris, and the Centre for Contemporary Politics invite you to a public event at the Hertie School in Berlin. The discussion will explore how EU enlargement can more effectively advance democratic reform in candidate states and what lessons can be drawn from recent experiences in the Western Balkans, particularly Serbia.
The event is part of the project Advancing Democracy through EU Enlargement, supported by Open Society Foundations. It will bring together policymakers, EU officials, academics, and think-tank experts to discuss recommendations for strengthening democratic incentives throughout the accession process.
The public panel discussion will be followed by a networking reception.
Agenda:
17.00 — 17.05 | Opening remarks by Thu Nguyen, Acting Co-Director, Jacques Delors Centre
17.05 — 18.25 | Panel discussion — ‘Advancing Democracy through EU Enlargement’
- Aleksandar Ivković, Researcher, Centre for Contemporary Politics
- Marina Vulovic, Research Associate, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
- Rejane Herwig, Program Director Europe Programme, Aspen Institute (tbc)
Moderation: Benjamin Couteau, Research Fellow at the Centre Grande Europe, Jacques Delors Institute
18.25 — 18.30 | Closing remarks by Nikola Burazer, Programme Director, Centre for Contemporary Politics
18:30 | Networking
