The EU’s Eastern Enlargement: Internal Dynamics and External Pressures

The European Union has recently given new momentum to its enlargement policy. Membership prospects for the Western Balkans have been reinvigorated, negotiations have opened with Ukraine and Moldova, and Georgia has been granted candidate status. This renewed enlargement unfolds against the backdrop of an increasingly unstable international system and the assertive behaviour of the EU’s adversaries. At the same time, the United States’ approach to Europe has grown more critical, particularly regarding prospects for peace in Ukraine. This panel will examine the multifaceted challenges facing the EU, its member states, and Eastern European candidate countries. First, in light of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, speakers will explore how security considerations and Europe’s strategic autonomy influence the enlargement process and its potential role in safeguarding peace – especially amid shifting U.S. attitudes toward European security. Second, enlargement requires rethinking dominant narratives about its benefits and risks to secure public support. Panellists will discuss strategies for shaping public opinion in an era of disinformation, polarised public spheres and increased contestation. Finally, new candidate countries, in response to the requirements of enlargement, must mobilise domestic resources to sustain the accession process and democratic reforms despite the dramatic circumstances of persistent Russian aggression. Panellists will discuss the strategies to best support these efforts.