Session 1: The “Big Bang Enlargement”: 15 Years Since the EU’s Greatest Accomplishment (Co-funded by the Europe for Citizens)
Discussion Points:
- How has 2004 “Big-Bang” changed the EU? Is the perception of the past enlargement rounds selective?
- What were the benefits and costs for the so-called “old Europe?”
- How has EU membership changed Czech Republic? What was the link between internal modernization of V4 countries and their European integration? What can be learnt from V4 countries experience in addressing challenges in effective transformation and European integration?
- Was the regional cooperation the added value? What are the strong points of regional cooperation during the accession period?
- How to convince the public that the EU enlargement is a good idea? Both in the EU member states and candidate countries.
- If the enlargement was a success story, then why there is a strong skepticism among Western European societies towards further enlargement?
- Why the EU policy is to keep the club together rather than bring in new members?
The Session aims to mark the 15th anniversary of the largest enlargement of the European Union in its history. It will explore the effects it made, the contributions and results of newcomers, but also discuss current state of the EU enlargement policy and perspectives for the candidate and aspiring countries from the Western Balkans. In this regards, a valued contribution to the discussion will give representatives of the Visegrad Group country Czech Republic and ex-Yugoslav republic Slovenia, while old EU members’ perspective will be given by speakers from Germany and Italy.
Previous BSF Sessions:
BSF 2018
Grand Opening: Western Balkans And The European Union
Plenary Panel 2: Reinventing The Union
BSF 2017
Keynote: Berlin Process in Belgrade
Session 5: What if the Western Balkans Never Becomes Part of the EU
Side Event: The Western Balkans in a Brexiting EU
Plenary Panel 4: EU-Balkans: What Is Our Common Future?
BSF 2016
Session 2: The Belgrade – Pristina Dialogue and the EU Future
Post Paris, Post BREXIT – Perspectives for the Western Balkans
BSF 2015
The Berlin Process in Belgrade: The EU as a Peace Project Revisited in the Western Balkans
Plenary panel 3: The Crisis in Ukraine – Lessons (not) Learned from the Western Balkans
BSF 2014
Session 4: EU Enlargement: Picking Up the Pieces?
Plenary Panel 4: Is It Time For a New Balkans Commission
BSF 2013
Session 1: Overcoming the Gaps in Security Cooperation in the Western Balkans
Session 3: Regional Cooperation and Reconciliation in the Western Balkans: Continuation or Stalemate
Session 9: Serbia and Kosovo*: A Game Changer in the Balkans?