Event

Europe’s next chapter: What next for the Western Balkans?

This event hosted by UK think tank the Foreign Policy Centre considers how the UK and European countries can support a more integrated Western Balkans.

The Western Balkans are entering a particularly consequential period. Russia’s war against Ukraine and renewed momentum around European Union (EU) enlargement, as well as growing concerns about foreign interference, democratic backsliding and regional security, have placed the region firmly back on the European policy agenda. At the same time, questions remain about the credibility and pace of the accession process, the political appetite for enlargement within EU Member States, and the role that external partners, including the United Kingdom, should play.

This parliamentary discussion will consider how the UK and European countries can support a more secure, democratic and integrated Western Balkans. It will explore the future of EU enlargement, including how geopolitical urgency can be balanced with continued expectations around democratic reform, the rule of law and institutional resilience; how different EU Member States are approaching further enlargement; and what role the UK should play in supporting regional security, democratic governance and European integration.

Speakers

Chaired by Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP

Vladimír Bilčík – Senior Fellow, GLOBSEC

Chris Levick – Regional Director, Europe and Central Asia, Westminster Foundation for Democracy

Professor Denisa Kostovicova – Professor of Global Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science