The Institute of Central Europe (IEŚ) and the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union invite you to a seminar dedicated to the future of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans.
5 November 2026, 10:45 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Venue: Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union, Avenue de Cortenbergh 16, Brussels.
At the end of October 2026, the Institute of Central Europe will publish the third edition of its policy paper entitled The EU’s Geopolitical Turn towards the Western Balkans, focusing on relations between the European Union and the Western Balkan countries. The publication examines the evolving dynamics of these relations and the political and geopolitical factors shaping them.
The uneven pace of progress among candidate countries, coupled with growing dissatisfaction with EU policies in some of them, raises questions about the future of the enlargement process. How can the EU reconcile its commitment to fundamental values with its geopolitical interests? Is the EU itself ready to welcome new members? These questions are particularly relevant given the growing importance of the Western Balkans for Europe’s security and stability.
The seminar will provide an opportunity to present the findings of the Institute of Central Europe’s report and discuss its conclusions and recommendations. The event coincides with the publication of the European Commission’s next enlargement package, lending particular significance to the discussion. Analyses prepared by international experts will bring an independent perspective to the debate on candidate countries’ progress and the future direction of EU enlargement policy.
One of the central themes of the seminar will be the costs and benefits of further delaying enlargement. Can Europe afford to leave the Western Balkans outside the EU in the long term? What are the political, social and economic consequences of maintaining the status quo? Participants will also consider what steps both the EU and aspiring member states should take to accelerate the integration process.
The Polish perspective will also feature prominently in the discussion. More than two decades of EU membership have brought profound political and economic transformations to Poland. Poland’s experience may serve as a valuable point of reference for Western Balkan countries seeking EU membership.
The seminar will open with remarks by Agnieszka Bartol, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the European Union, and Anton Saifullayeu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Central Europe. The keynote address will be delivered by Michał Giergoń, Deputy Director of the Department of Enlargement and Eastern Policy at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The opening session will be followed by a presentation of the key findings and recommendations of the Institute of Central Europe’s report and a Q&A session. The seminar will conclude with a panel discussion on the costs of non-enlargement of the EU, followed by a networking lunch.
The seminar will be held in English.
Registration
Those wishing to attend the seminar in person are kindly requested to register by 3 November 2026 via the Eventbrite registration form.
The event will take place exclusively in person at the premises of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union in Brussels.
IEŚ Seminar in Brussels: The Future of EU Enlargement to the Western Balkans