This event is in the past.
The Enlargement Package 2025 adopted by the European Commission on 4 November 2025 contains annual country reports that assess progress of accession candidates on their way into the EU. Independent evidence from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) will be crucial to interpret the findings and sustain reform momentum in accession candidates. At the same time, shrinking civic space threatens their watchdog and bridge-building role.
This Europe Talk situates CSO insights alongside the Commission’s assessment, bridging Brussels’ benchmarks with realities on the ground in both candidate countries and member states. The panel discussion will address the relevance of Germany for re-invigorating EU accession, particularly concerning the Berlin Process, as well as driving forward reform discussions of the EU itself.
Speakers
Barbara Gessler, Head of Representation, European Commission, Berlin
Dr Anton Hofreiter, Member of the German Bundestag, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Berlin
Markus Knauf, Head of Department E25, Fundamental Issues of EU Foreign Relations, Federal Foreign Office, Berlin
Andi Dobrushi, Director, Open Society Foundations Western Balkans, Tirana
Karyna Hasymova, Advocacy Manager, DEJURE Foundation, Kyiv
Moderator: Prof. Dr Funda Tekin, Director, Institut für Europäische Politik, Berlin
Date & Location
Thursday, 13 November 2025 10.00 – 11.30 CET
EU Commission – Representation in Germany, Europäisches Haus, Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany
The official registration period has now closed. Should you wish to submit a late registration, please contact us at info@iep-berlin.de
The RESILIO-ACCESS Civil Society Forum 2025 in Berlin brings together representatives from civil society in EU accession candidates and beyond who work towards a resilient rule of law and democracy. The project RESILIO-ACCESS — Resilience Observatory on the Rule of Law in EU Accession Candidates aims to explore how to measure the resilience of the rule of law and assess the potential of the EU’s enlargement policy toolbox to foster resilience. RESILIO-ACCESS is funded by Stiftung Mercator and jointly implemented by IEP and IDSCS.
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