Discerning the perceptual gap between the EU policies and the candidate (and potential candidate) countries’ expectations and needs in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood

Abstract

Presenter: Alexandra Prodromidou No pre-registration required – just drop in on the day. This presentation is based on the preliminary findings from research conducted between February-May 2025 in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) and the Associated Trio (Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) inside the framework of the EU funded project GEO-POWER-EU (Empowering the Geopolitical EU in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans). The presentation showcases views of elites on the Union’s enlargement policy in EU candidates of the Western Balkan six and Eastern Partnership, along with those drawn from the EU itself. Interviewees were drawn from politics, civil society, academia, and the business realm. Perceptions are mapped regarding the nature of enlargement policy, the balancing of merit-based principles with geopolitical considerations, the impact of the war in Ukraine, the challenges to the accession process, and the geopolitical context and implications of accession. GEO-POWER-EU’s main objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the EU to manage security threats within the deteriorating geopolitical environment that lies in its Eastern Neighbourhood and in the Western Balkans. The project’s main goal is to articulate a proposal for a comprehensive EU strategy towards these regions that will employ new and reformed means and policy instruments, taking into consideration foresight concerning the strategic ambitions of other geopolitical actors. *“This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion.” The session includes a 25–30 minute presentation, followed by a 15-minute discussion.