During his visit in Kyiv, IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer recorded a video message for participants of a special online event for Europe Day. More than 30.000 participants from Ukraine and other European countries participated in the live broadcast organised by the Educational Center of the Verkhovna Rada. We congratulate our partners to this extraordinary achievement and look forward to continue our cooperation!

The whole event can be rewatched (in Ukrainian) on YouTube, the video message is available from minute 34:00.

On 28 April 2025, the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine welcomed Sebastian Schäffer, Director of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), to Kyiv, marking a significant milestone in their collaborative efforts under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed in July 2024. 

Since the memorandum’s inception, the partnership has yielded notable initiatives, including a series of educational webinars titled “Ukraine’s Path to the EU” held between November 2024 and January 2025, which attracted over 250 participants. Additionally, representatives from the Research Service have actively participated in international conferences and IDM roundtables, fostering discussions on EU enlargement challenges and issues of local self-government amid democratic transformation. 

Looking ahead, the collaboration aims to delve deeper into topics such as European values, judicial reform, the protection of fundamental human rights, and the implementation of international criminal law through a new series of webinars planned for 2025. This ongoing partnership not only enhances the analytical capacity of the Research Service but also reinforces the educational support essential for Ukraine’s European integration journey. 

The IDM remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s path toward EU accession, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation in achieving shared democratic goals. 

https://research.rada.gov.ua/en/news/news_en/76176.html 

Further Information and Related Resources:

Webinars on Ukraine’s Path towards EU Accession for the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada

Webinar “Ukraine’s Path towards EU Accession I: History of the EU enlargement” in cooperation with the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe

Webinar “Ukraine’s Path towards EU Accession II: challenges of EU Enlargement” in cooperation with the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe

Webinar “Ukraine’s path towards EU. Accession III: Future of EU enlargement” in cooperation with the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe

In the framework of the memorandum of understanding between the IDM and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, three webinars were held between November 2024 and January 2025. In total more than 250 participants have listened to the input provided by IDM director Sebastian Schäffer, and engaged in a stimulating exchange on the history, challenges and the future of EU Enlargement.

In the first webinar, we looked back to 1973, when the first round of enlargement of the European Community (the precursor to the EU) took place, with the UK, Denmark, and Ireland joining. Afterward, 19 more countries joined the EU (and one left again). However, after the last enlargement, which was Croatia’s accession in 2013, the process of EU enlargement stalled. While the average duration of negotiations in past enlargements had been 3.5 years, Montenegro had been negotiating for over 11 years without membership in sight—a stark contrast. The reasons for this stagnation were varied, including the lengthy accession process, which often required the unanimous agreement of all EU countries.

The second webinar, the history of EU enlargement was explored, and the reasons for the halt in this process were discussed further. EU enlargement and the expansion of the single market had benefitted not only the new EU countries but also the older EU member states. However, EU enlargement had always come with many challenges—both in the past and at the time. During the major Eastern enlargement of the EU in 2004, fears of the „Polish plumber“ had emerged in France. In 2024, Polish farmers had protested against Ukrainian agricultural imports. In this webinar, the challenges that Ukraine’s EU accession presented were examined. Questions were raised, such as whether an accelerated accession was possible for the country, whether Ukraine could join while still in a state of war, and how EU and NATO membership were connected.

In the third and final webinar, we looked ahead to the next legislative period of the EU, which will be crucial for advancing enlargement. The prolonged and stalled EU enlargement processes had highlighted the need for a more effective and reformed strategy to give candidate countries a real opportunity for accession. Various approaches to revitalizing the EU enlargement process have been proposed, ranging from gradual integration through a staged accession model to primarily economic integration under a proposed European Economic Community II. Another idea is the creation of a Greater European Council, which, unlike the European Political Community, could act as a real decision-making body and helped facilitate the accession process. At the same time, the Eastern Partnership requires rethinking. Potential futures for European integration were explored and also a new model for European governance was proposed. Each session ended with a lively Q&A on the topics but also on how to foster cooperation between the Research Service and the IDM.

The cooperation will be continued with more expert input especially regarding the different chapters of the acquis communautaire. A personal exchange will also take place in Kyiv in April.