On 21 November, TEPSA welcomed a group of 26 students and young graduates from across Europe to the InvigoratEU Youth Lab, to discuss and collect their policy recommendations on how to re-invigorate the EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood policy in a changing geopolitical context.

Their suggestions included:

• Overcoming institutional hurdles, for example via the implementation of qualified majority decisions in the Council to open and close chapters of the aquis;
• Better communicating on the benefits of Enlargement, both in the Member States and in the Candidate countries;
• Supporting civil society, not only in regards to funding but also by opening concrete avenues for dialogue throughout the process;
• Ensuring the process remains merit-based and that the protection of fundamental rights and values is not compromised;
• Providing credible security guarantees, including early involvement with PESCO and other forms of military cooperation.

These ideas will feed directly into the project research and the preparation of its toolkit for policymakers. Find out more about InvigoratEU by clicking here.