The map of the European Union is changing. Countries that once stood outside the EU are now at its doorstep, and the decisions made in the coming years will shape the continent for generations. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine shattered the illusion of a stable European order. The vulnerabilities it revealed had been there all along: supply chains that proved brittle, energy dependencies that became weaponised, and instances where the EU hesitated and malign powers moved in to fill the vacuum. Against this backdrop, the case for enlargement makes itself: more members mean more countries pooling defence capabilities, more diversified supply chains, deeper trade integration. Enlargement is the EU’s investment in its own resilience.

And yet this is not what people are hearing. In some states, enlargement is framed as a charity, a risk, a burden, and that is the version being handed to people by those who benefit from keeping the EU small and divided. In others, it is not even a discussion point. Either way, the average citizen is left with the same question: why should I want this, and what’s in it for me? Scepticism grows in the absence of understanding, and understanding requires a conversation that has not genuinely included the people it concerns the most.

TEPSA’s contest “What future for the European continent?” was an invitation to change that. We wanted to hear citizens’ vision for what Europe could become, whatever your background and nationality.

About

“What future for the European continent?” was a public contest that ran until 24 July 2026, exploring what a wider European Union could mean for Europe’s security, competitiveness, and citizens. We welcomed submissions in three categories: written essays, poetry, and audiovisual works, responding to the theme of Europe’s future and EU enlargement.

The contest was open to students, young professionals, and anyone interested in the future of Europe and EU enlargement, aged 18 and above. All nationalities and residencies were welcome to participate.

Prizes and recognition

The contest ended on 24 July 2026. A reviewing committee will select three winning submissions. The prizes for the contest are as follow:

• Three winners of the contest will be invited to the InvigoratEU final conference on 4-5 November 2026, taking place in Brussels, with travel and accommodation covered up to €500.
• They work will be featured at the InvigoratEU consortium meeting and promoted by TEPSA online, seen by leading researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners within the field of EU enlargement.