The European Union (EU) is currently amidst a rapidly changing geopolitical environment that has tested the resilience and adaptability of its enlargement and neighbourhood policies. The EU’s approach to enlargement has undergone significant transformation since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This includes opening accession talks with new candidate countries, granting candidate status to Georgia and Bosnia Herzegovina, conducting pre-enlargement policy reviews to adapt longstanding policies for an enlarged Union, and even reflecting on changes to EU decision-making rules to address the absorption capacity issue.
While these developments demonstrated the EU’s adaptability, they also exposed certain limitations of its traditional mechanisms for regional engagement and fostering integration and stability through enlargement. This is especially evident in light of Russia’s continued destabilizing moves in the Western Balkans and in Eastern Neighbourhood regions.
The EU’s approach to enlargement has undergone significant transformation since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. To discuss these changes and reflect on the necessary policy adjustments needed to enable the EU enlargement, we organised the InvigoratEU Academy: “Making EU enlargement a success” in Brussels from 3-6 December 2024. This programme provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of EU enlargement policies and the current geopolitical needs and will offer the chance to meet senior professionals working on these topics. Through expert-led sessions and meetings with leading EU practitioners, participants gained the knowledge and skills necessary to actively shape and influence the future of the EU.
The Academy was organised in the framework of the Horizon Europe project “InvigoratEU: Invigorating Enlargement And Neighbourhood Policy For A Resilient Europe”, seeking to produce forward-thinking research and policy recommendations for the EU’s enlargement policy.
What participants benefitted from
- First-hand insights into the intricacies of EU policymaking;
- A comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities within EU enlargement policy;
- The development of practical skills in policy analysis and effective argumentation through interactive sessions;
- Connections with high-level professionals, peers, and policymakers, creating valuable relationships that can support your career development.
Dates, Location and Format
The InvigoratEU Academy was a four-day event, held in Brussels from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 December 2024. Full participation to all elements of the programme was compulsory. Participants received a certificate of attendance on the final day.
Over the course of four days, participants engaged in expert lectures, meetings with practitioners, and visits to EU institutions.
Eligibility
The InvigoratEU Academy ran a call for applications open to young professionals, including young diplomats, early-stage researchers, think tankers, CSO representatives, junior civil servants, MA and PhD students from the EU, (potential) candidate countries and beyond, with an interest in EU enlargement. Applications were open to both EU and non-EU citizens. The call closed on 15 October 2024.
This diverse group will provide a rich environment for dialogue and learning, enabling participants to engage with peers and members of the InvigoratEU Expert Hub in Brussels.
Practical Information
Participation in the InvigoratEU Academy was free of charge. However, the selected applicants were required to pay a €100 deposit to secure their seat, which was fully refunded upon participation. In case of non-participation, the deposit was not be refunded.
Participants in the InvigoratEU Academy received a reimbursement for their travel and accommodation costs up to € 750 upon presentation of the original receipts and tickets. They also received a € 15 per diem for each day when lunch was not provided.
