Conference: Enlargement in perspective: How the candidate and potential candidate countries perceive accession in the light of the current crisis?

Enlargement in perspective: How the candidate and potential candidate countries perceive accession in the light of the current crisis?

Organised by Maria Eleni Koppa (MEP, Greece, S&D Group in the EP) with help from FEPS and SOLIDAR, in cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

This international conference is a follow up of the European Parliament report “Enlargement: policies, criteria and the EU’s strategic interests” drafted by Ms Koppa and adopted almost unanimously last November and will be joined by Commissioner Štefan Füle (responsible for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy)  and Hannes Swoboda (MEP, Austria, President S&D Group in the EP).

During this conference academia, trade unions and civil society from aspirant countries in the Western Balkans and Turkey will give their views on the future European enlargement process, on the basis of the following main questions:

–       How is the EU accession process currently perceived amongst citizens in the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey? And what lessons can be learned from that for the future integration process?

–       What was the impact of the economic crisis on the enlargement countries and how has it influenced their aspiration to join the EU?

–       What are key priority aspects within the countries of the Western Balkans, related to the EU social acquis, which would demand immediate attention within the accession negotiations?

–       Could civil society and trade unions develop common initiatives to promote social cohesion, active inclusion, decent work and quality employment and what specific issues could be highlighted?

Speakers at this conference will include representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey, joined by Members of the European Parliament, European Commission, and experts of Oxford University, Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and International Trade Union Confederation.

Register by 27 February here

(Programme attached in pdf)