Lecture on EU Enlargement for the Next Visionaries Program

On 28 January, Sebastian Schäffer and Sophia Beiter held an online lecture titled “How to achieve a reformed, effective and citizen-centered enlargement strategy?” for the Next Visionaries Program, an academic initiative of ERSTE Foundation designed for young Ukrainians working in governmental and non-governmental organizations and preparing for careers in European integration and post-war reconstruction. The program is implemented by Internews Ukraine (Kyiv) with the support of the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine. 

Schäffer and Beiter spoke about the current state of EU enlargement, outlining key challenges and benefits as well as ideas for reforming the enlargement process. They also presented citizens’ perspectives and expectations for a future enlargement strategy, drawing on insights from Sophia Beiter’s fellowship project at the Charlemagne Prize Academy.