EU enlargement is high on the European agenda again. While some governments view it as a geopolitical necessity, the EU’s present shape needs to change before it can expand. Key decisions on enlargement and reform are expected to be made at the EU summit in December 2023.
In the run-up to this summit, it is essential to explore how the EU can prepare for enlargement while improving its capacity to act, absorb new members, and protect the rule of law. Given current geopolitical conditions, the EU must also strengthen democracy and fundamental European values.
In early 2023, the governments of France and Germany asked an independent group of Franco-German experts to develop proposals for institutional reforms of the EU. On September 19, the group presented its report at the EU’s General Affairs Council in Brussels. At this joint event, we will discuss how the report has been received in the EU’s Eastern member states. We will also assess how stable positions on enlargement are in these countries, France, and Germany.
Speakers:
Konrad Szymański, Deputy Director, Polish Economic Institute; Former Polish Minister for European Affairs (2015 to 2022)
Milan Nič, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, DGAP
Daniela Schwarzer, Member of Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Executive Board; Member of the Franco-German Expert Group
Thu Nguyen, Senior Fellow, Jacques Delors Centre; Member of the Franco-German Expert Group
Shahin Vallée, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Technology, DGAP; Member of the Franco-German Expert Group
Chair: Johannes Lindner, Co-Director, Jacques Delors Centre
Please register for the event here. You will receive a confirmation email containing details about joining us on Thursday, October 5. You will find information related to data processing at https://dgap.org/en/zoom. Please note that the event will be recorded and photographs will be taken throughout. The recording of the public discussion will be made available on DGAP’s YouTube Channel.