WAITING FOR EUROPE: EU Enlargement in an Era of Uncertainty
16.06.2026
18:00 - 19:30
IIP
Möllwaldplatz 5/7, 1040 Wien
For decades, the "European Perspective" was a distant promise for the Western Balkans. Today, the geopolitical landscape has shifted. Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned EU enlargement from a bureaucratic process into a security imperative. Yet, as the "waiting room" grows more crowded, so does the frustration.
This public panel discussion brings together experts that will move beyond the technical "chapters" of accession. Can the EU reform itself internally while simultaneously expanding? How can the EU regain credibility in the Western Balkans while meeting the urgent needs of its neighborhood? What does joining the Union mean for the democratic aspirations of the region?
The discussion builds on our “Young Generation for the New Western Balkans” initiative, which seeks to elevate youth perspectives within policy debates on EU enlargement. Through workshops and regional exchanges, the initiative connects young leaders to develop a shared vision centered on reconciliation, inclusion, and a credible European future.
Welcome:
Gerhard Marchl
Head of the European Politics Department, Karl-Renner-Institut
Gjergj Loka
Project Coordinator, International Institute for Peace (IIP)
Moderator:
Vedran Džihić
Senior Researcher, Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip)
Panelists:
Ulrike Hartmann
Head of the Department South Eastern Europe and EU Enlargement; Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA)
Hannes Swoboda
President, International Institute for Peace (IIP)
Donika Emini
Research Scholar, Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group, Prishtina
Olga Pindyuk
Economist, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw)
In cooperation with the International Institute for Peace (IIP) and the Karl-Renner-Institut.
