EU Enlargement: Balkans, Ukraine – Who Shall Be Next and Why?

The Center for European Studies, in partnership with Modul University Vienna, convened leading policymakers, academics, and experts to explore the evolving prospects of European Union enlargement. Centering on the Western Balkans and Ukraine, the event examined how political will, strategic vision, and social cohesion will determine whether the EU can sustain its role as a credible geopolitical actor. Through a series of candid discussions and debates, participants assessed the state of enlargement fatigue, the political and institutional barriers within the EU, and the shifting geopolitical realities brought about by the war in Ukraine. The event ultimately posed a central question: can the EU adapt and expand in a world defined by a new political order?

Western Balkans First: Rethinking EU Enlargement Priorities

The Center for European Studies hosted Arnaud Gouillon, Director of Serbia’s Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, for a thought-provoking discussion on EU enlargement through a Serbian lens. The event explored Serbia’s longstanding aspiration to join the EU, regional dynamics in the Western Balkans, and the political double standards shaping today’s accession process.