The enlargement of the European Union represents a central pillar of European integration and is seen as its most successful foreign policy instrument. Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the issue has once again come into focus and gained geopolitical urgency, particularly for Baltic and Central and Eastern European member states.
Nevertheless, the enlargement process is characterised by major challenges and tensions. The EU has evolved since the last major enlargement in 2004. Particularly in light of the preservation of the rule of law, complicated decision-making, and internal cohesion, there are calls for future EU enlargement to be accompanied by institutional reforms to ensure the long-term functionality of an enlarged Union. Furthermore, all candidate countries face difficult reforms – albeit to varying degrees – before accession to the EU is possible. Overall, this mixed situation does not simplify the accession process.
Against this backdrop, considerations regarding forms of gradual or staged accession are gaining importance. The goal of such proposals is to make the economic and political benefits of enlargement available to the candidate countries and the Union at an early stage, without undermining the obligations associated with full membership. Other voices fear that this could lead to a loss of sight of full membership as a goal.
As part of the "EU Conversations 2025: Europe for the New Age," organised by the Latvian Institute for International Affairs (LIIA) in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia and the Latvian Parliament, the IEP hosted a lunch debate in form of a panel debate on EU enlargement. Moderated by Dr. Barbara Lippert, Research Director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the panel featured former Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, President of the Centre for International Relations in Warsaw, and Dr. Matteo Bonomi, Senior Fellow at the Institute of International Affairs (IAI) in Rome.
The conference and the panel are online available here:
IEP thanks the Federal Foreign Office for its support of the lunch debates.
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