IDM Director at the Western Balkans Fellowship Programme Jubilee Event in the Austrian Parliament
©️ Buchner/Parlamentsdirektion
The Austrian Parliament hosted the Jubilee Event of the Western Balkans Fellowship Programme, bringing together current fellows, programme alumni, mentors, policy experts, and parliamentary representatives from across the region. The gathering, supported by the European Fund for the Balkans and ERSTE Foundation, highlighted the programme’s long-standing contribution to regional cooperation and administrative capacity-building.
Sebastian Schäffer, Director of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), took part in the opening panel discussions, stressing the importance of credible EU integration prospects and the need to deepen institutional exchange, both between the Western Balkans and EU member states, and equally among the Western Balkan countries themselves. Strengthening these connections remains essential for building trust, improving governance, and advancing reforms.
A central part of the debate focused on the state of EU enlargement. During the exchange, Schäffer responded to a comparison that described integration as a moving train:
“This is a fitting metaphor – but we are trying to add new cars while some are on fire, we are going full speed, and some valves are blocked. We should have used the time when it was going steady without much external problems. So now we all need to work together.”
The remark captured the urgency felt across the programme participants: enlargement requires readiness on both sides, and delaying internal reforms only makes the process more challenging.
With representatives of the Western Balkans Fellowship Programme, parliamentary stakeholders, and regional experts all present, the event once again demonstrated how crucial sustained engagement, institutional cooperation, and political will remain for moving the Western Balkans closer to the European Union.
The IDM is committed to supporting initiatives that foster meaningful dialogue, strengthen regional ties, and contribute to a stable and integrated Europe like the Western Balkans Fellowship Programme and thankful for the invitation to contribute to the Jubilee Event.
Péter Techet for STVR Pátria Rádió on Orbán’s Visit to Moscow
In the Hungarian-language program of Slovak Radio (STVR), Péter Techet discussed the possible reasons for Orbán’s visit to Moscow and its domestic political implications.
The interview can be listened to here: https://patria24.stvr.sk/2025/12/01/mit-keres-orban-viktor-putyin-asztalanal/
Exchange with the Center for Balkan Cooperation – LOJA at the IDM
In today’s event, the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) presented its evolving mission and engaged in an exchange with representatives of the Center for Balkan Cooperation – LOJA from Tetovo and educators from the Western Balkan 6. The discussion centred on how regional cooperation and education can support the EU integration of the Western Balkans, as well as the significance of multiculturalism in the wider Danube Region.
IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer outlined the Institute’s transformation from supporting CEE accession in the early 2000s to becoming a think tank with a strong focus on the EU’s enlargement regions, including the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova. Special emphasis was placed on the IDM’s 5 Ps, showcasing how the Institute promotes EU enlargement through policy expertise, its platform, publications, projects, and public events.
The dialogue with LOJA highlighted concrete opportunities for collaboration: traineeships for students from the WB6, participation in IDM’s publication formats, and engagement in initiatives such as the Danubius Young Scientist Award, the Speak Up programme for young leaders, and the DRC Summer School, which was presented as a potential platform for future academic exchange.
The event also featured contributions from IDM research associates. Peter Techet presented on multiculturalism in the Danube Region and the Western Balkans, outlining the region’s long multiethnic history and current challenges—from parallel structures in North Macedonia to ethnically entrenched politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sophia Beiter presented her latest research on reforming the EU enlargement process, offering insights into how institutional models and political frameworks could be adapted to better support candidate countries.
These thematic inputs closely align with LOJA’s mission of strengthening multicultural education, fostering regional cooperation, and expanding opportunities for students and educators across the WB6.
– William Einem
Sophia Beiter at the Conference „Shaping Europe‘s future“ in Passau
From 26 to 28 November, IDM Research Associate Sophia Beiter attended the conference „Shaping Europe‘s future“ in Passau. The event was jointly organised by the Charlemagne Prize Foundation, the Mediengruppe Bayern and the University of Passau. The programme included interactive workshops on the future potential of Europe from the perspectives of education, digital activism and European values. Sophia Beiter presented some of the research results of the project „How to achieve a citizen-based and reformed EU enlargement strategy?“ during a poster session at the University of Passau. The programme also featured a discussion with Yulia Navalnaya and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who received the Menschen in Europa-Award.
Panel Discussion „The Future of EU Enlargement to the Western Balkans“
On 24 November, IDM Research Associate Sophia Beiter participated as a speaker in a online panel discussion on „The Future of EU Enlargement to the Western Balkans“, organized by Jóvenes Europeos Federalistas in Spain and the College of Europe in Tirana. During the discussion, she shared some of the findings of the research project „How to achieve a citizen-based and reformed EU enlargement strategy?“.
Workshop about ‘Undoing the Illiberal Damage: A Democratic Guide to Reversing Democratic Backsliding’ at the IDM with experts from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria
Hungary since 2010, Poland between 2015 and 2023, and Slovakia since 2023 have experienced, or are experiencing, democratic backsliding. A project at the Institute for Danube Region and Central Europe, funded by the Felczak Institute for Polish-Hungarian Studies, examines, through the examples of Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, what an illiberal system means for the rule of law, the media, culture and academia, and corruption – and how liberal democracy in these areas can be strengthened following a change of government.
Malwina Talik and Dr Péter Techet authored a policy paper on the central questions of the project and the possible pathways in Poland and Hungary, which provided the foundation for a subsequent workshop on the subject.
Topics and outcomes of the workshop
As part of this project, an international workshop was held at the IDM on 18–19 November, bringing together experts from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria. The workshop comprised four panels, focusing on the rule of law, the media, identity politics, and corruption. The emphasis was not on a purely academic analysis, but on sharing practical experiences and exploring options and strategies to reverse illiberal trends.
Firstly, experts from each country outlined how illiberal systems were established as well as how illiberal damage – particularly in Poland after 2023 – might be undone. This was followed by discussions on the causes of illiberalism and potential routes back to liberal democracy. Across all panels, a key focus was what Poland has achieved since 2023 in dismantling illiberal structures and policies, and whether these experiences could be applied to Hungary after 2026 or Slovakia after 2027, should there be a change of government. The presentations and discussions revealed how far illiberalism has advanced in each country, depending on whether governments were able to amend the constitution, and on the priorities they pursued.
A common thread across all three cases is that illiberalism emerges in polarised societies, where populist rhetoric and antagonistic ‘us’ versus ‘them’ narratives weaken social consensus around liberal democracy, turning domestic politics into a struggle between liberal and illiberal visions of democracy, each using constitutional mechanisms to different ends. Another shared feature in all illiberal democracies is the weakening of constitutional oversight, civil society, and pluralism, including attacks on dissenting voices and on both public and private media. In terms of corruption, however, there are notable differences: in Poland, corruption is largely individual; in Slovakia, it is tolerated and facilitated by state actors; and in Hungary, it has evolved into a centralised, state-run ‘mafia’ structure.
The restoration of liberal democracy in all three countries depends on the ability to reform the constitution and legal framework, which is a particularly difficult task in Hungary, where the illiberal regime has maintained a constitution-amending (two-third) majority almost continuously since 2010. More broadly, a sustainable return to liberal democracy requires social consensus, potentially achieved through compromise between political ‘camps’.
Building on the workshop’s insights and further research, Malwina Talik and Dr Péter Techet are preparing a report, by the end of the year, on the successes and strategies for undoing illiberal damage.
(Dr Péter Techet)
Sebastian Schäffer for Fair Observer on Ukraine’s new defence letter of intent and the impact on European security
In a recent interview for Fair Observer, Sebastian Schäffer, IDM Director, discussed the new defence letter of intent signed by Ukraine for 100 Rafale jets from France and 150 Gripen jets from Sweden. Beyond providing weapons that meet Ukraine’s current needs, these agreements send two positive signals for the future. On the one hand, this shows that France and Sweden believe in Ukraine’s capabilities to defend themselves and are willing to support the country in this process. On the other hand, these agreements illustrate potential cross-border cooperation in defence matters – a positive sign for the future of European security. Sebastian Schäffer highlighted the need to turn into an interconnected defence cooperation, as this sector is still largely nationalised in Europe.
Unfortunately, this momentum for a new defence cooperation has been affected by the disclosure of a major corruption scandal, involving some of the closest associates of Zelenskyy. This scandal is particularly outrageous to the population because it affects vital sectors, such as education and health, which are already seriously threatened by Russian attacks.
Nevertheless, Sebastian Schäffer stressed that Ukraine remains a democratic country fighting corruption and that this scandal should not lead to a withdrawal in support for Ukraine.
You can find the full interview here: FO° Talks: Ukraine’s Rafale and Gripen Deals Overshadowed by Major Corruption Scandal
Péter Techet at the Political Café of VHS Alsergrund on Hungary
As part of the “Political Café” series at VHS Alsergrund, Péter Techet participated in a panel discussion on the current situation in Hungary. Together with writer Lukas Pellmann and historian Gergely Romsics, Techet discussed the challenges of replacing an illiberal system according to its own rules. In the lively discussion that followed with the audience, the participants answered questions both about the historical roots of Hungarian illiberalism and the prospects of the Tisza Party.
Gastkommentar in Die Presse: „Europas größte Errungenschaft in Gefahr“
In ihrem aktuellen Gastkommentar in der österreichischen Tageszeitung Die Presse warnen IDM-Direktor Sebastian Schäffer und Sophia Beiter eindringlich vor den langfristigen Folgen der erneut verlängerten Grenzkontrollen Deutschlands. Der Beitrag trägt den Titel „Europas größte Errungenschaft in Gefahr“ und rückt das Schengen-Abkommen als zentrales Symbol europäischer Integration ins Zentrum.
Anhand historischer Rückblicke – so etwa auf Stefan Zweigs beschriebene Grenzenlosigkeit von Salzburg nach Triest – machen die beiden klar, was auf dem Spiel steht: Ein Europa ohne Schlagbäume, wie es generationsübergreifend erkämpft wurde, droht durch die aktuelle Politik langsam zu zerbröckeln.
Ökonomisch wie gesellschaftlich ist der Preis für diese Grenzkontrollen hoch: Studien (u. a. von Prognos AG) gehen von bis zu 235 Milliarden Euro Kosten aus, sollte Schengen langfristig faktisch ausgesetzt werden. Gleichzeitig schätzt Allianz Trade die jährlichen wirtschaftlichen Belastungen allein durch temporäre Kontrollen auf 11,5 Milliarden Euro. Den Autor*innen zufolge stehen diesen realen Kosten vor allem symbolische „Sicherheitsgewinne“ gegenüber – ein Missverhältnis, das nicht ignoriert werden darf.
Politisch kritisieren Schäffer und Beiter, dass die Kontrollen vor allem als populistisches Signal nach innen dienen: Regierungen suggerieren Handlungsfähigkeit, während sie zugleich die Grundidee eines offenen Europas untergraben. Jede Verlängerung der Ausnahme bedrohe das Vertrauen, die Mobilität und die Solidarität zwischen den EU-Mitgliedstaaten.
Das IDM appelliert klar: Deutschland müsse seine europäische Verantwortung wahrnehmen und ein verbindliches Bekenntnis zu offenen Grenzen abgeben – statt den Ausnahmezustand sukzessive zu normalisieren. Denn: Schengen ist mehr als ein Abkommen – es ist eine zentrale Säule gemeinsamen europäischen Zusammenhalts.
Der vollständige Text kann hier abgerufen werden: Europas größte Errungenschaft in Gefahr – DiePresse.com
Ein früherer Artikel von Sebastian Schäffer und Sophia Beiter über das österreichische Veto zum Schengen-Beitritt von Bulgarien und Rumänien aus dem Jahr 2023 kann hier abgerufen werden: Eines der drängendsten Themen unserer Zeit – DiePresse.com
M.Talik about Rail Baltica as a European security project
Rail Baltica is a major infrastructure project connecting the Baltic States to the European rail network via a standard-gauge high-speed railway, aiming to improve regional connectivity. Our colleague Malwina Talik was interviewed on its security aspects alongside Dr. Julian Lindley-French, Christian Leuprecht, and Edward Lucas. She highlighted Rail Baltica’s role not only in transport and sustainability but also as a critical component of Europe’s security architecture, while noting that its strategic importance makes it vulnerable to potential sabotage.
Read the article here: https://www.railbaltica.org/news/rail-baltica-the-line-that-redraws-europes-map/
Watch the fragments of the interview here: https://www.facebook.com/RailBalticaGlobalProject/videos/rail-baltica-the-line-that-redraws-europes-map/1865651554053254/
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