EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans – What Is Going Wrong?

The Western Balkan states have been seeking to join the EU for years, but the enlargement process is stagnating and has devolved into a ritualized façade of progress sustained by both the EU and candidate countries. Despite formal commitments, genuine political will for reform is largely absent on both sides. While political elites in aspirant countries exploit instability, nationalism and external actors – notably Russia and China – to extract concessions from Brussels, the EU fails to enforce effective implementation of necessary reforms, allowing authoritarianism to deepen while EU funds continue to flow.

Klemen Grošelj – Slovenian politician (former MEP) and academic – recently published a study together with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, which critically examines the stagnation of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans.

Together with our distinguished guests and experts, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom invites you to discuss the topic and raise your questions.

The number of participant places is unfortunately limited. Registration via our website and receipt of a registration confirmation are therefore mandatory for participation in the event.