27 April 2026: Discussion/Lecture : From Kyiv to Skopje: EU Enlargement 2.0

EU enlargement is still on the agenda, but under very different conditions than the last enlargements. Countries on the EU’s eastern and southeastern borders are negotiating accession at a time shaped by war, as well as political and economic uncertainty.

At this event, we take a step back from the usual pros and cons debate on enlargement. Instead, we focus on the tensions and trade-offs that come with it.

We’ll ask: what kind of economic transformation does EU accession actually bring? Does cohesion policy really work or does integration lead to dependence on stronger economies?

We’ll also look at the political dimension. Does the accession process strengthen democracy, or does it risk replacing existing power structures with EU institutions that themselves face a democratic deficit?

Finally, we’ll reflect on what enlargement means for Europe as a whole. Does it create a more connected political space with new neighboring countries, or does it simply push the external borders of the EU further east and south?

Rather than offering simple answers, this discussion aims to open up a more critical conversation about the future of EU enlargement and the kind of EU it is shaping.

Our discussants will include:

• Anna Svetozarov (Razem Berlin)
• Artyom Stassyuk (Ukrainische Linke Initiative)
• Dorina Achelaritei (Journalistin)
• Krunoslav Stojaković (Senior Advisor for West, East and Southeast Europe)
• Moderation by Bartosz Frydel (Razem Berlin).

The event will be held in English and is a cooperation with Razem Berlin and the Ukrainische Linke Initiative.