EURACTIV Poland, in cooperation with EURACTIV Slovakia, EURACTIV Czechia, Gwara Media cordially invites you to an expert online discussion titled Fortress or Frontier? The EU’s Enlargement Dilemma, which will take place on Monday, June 16 at 11:00 AM via Zoom.
Amid Poland’s current Presidency of the EU Council, the topic of EU enlargement has regained momentum—both geopolitically and normatively. This conference will explore how the European integration process promotes democratic institutions, the rule of law, and good governance in countries aspiring to join the EU, particularly Ukraine. Strengthening democratic values and societal resilience will be at the heart of the discussion.
Drawing on the experiences of Central and Eastern European countries—especially the Visegrad Group—experts will examine how EU accession has shaped political transformation, reinforced European principles, and countered democratic backsliding. The debate will address current challenges, including the spread of disinformation and the erosion of public trust in institutions.
Speakers from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine will also discuss strategies to support candidate countries and assess different enlargement approaches: the “big bang” model of collective accession versus a step-by-step, country-by-country process. Each carries distinct political, institutional, and societal implications that must be considered in today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical context.
The event aims to foster European solidarity and encourage active participation in shaping the EU’s future through inclusive, value-based enlargement policy. By gathering regional perspectives, the discussion will contribute to a deeper understanding of how EU enlargement can serve as a driver of democratic consolidation.
PROGRAMME
- 11:00 - 11:05 Opening remarks
- 11:05 - 12:05 Panel discussion
- 12:05 - 12:25 Q&A session
- 12:25 - 12:30 Closing remarks
PANELISTS
- Pavol Demeš, Transatlantic Fellow, German Marshall Fund, former Slovak Minister for External Affairs
- Jan Kovář, Research Director, Institute of International Relations Prague
- Daniel Szeligowski, Head of Eastern Europe Programme, Polish Institute of International Affairs
- Nataliya Vinnykova, Head of the Department of International Relations, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
MODERATOR
- Karolina Zbytniewska, Editor-in-Chief, EURACTIV.pl
The discussion will be held in English. We expect the event to last one and a half hours.
Registration link (Admission for everyone after registration).
CONTACT
- Julia Ablewska (Táto e-mailová adresa je chránená pred spamovacími robotmi. Na jej zobrazenie potrebujete mať nainštalovaný JavaScript.)
The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
