17. August 2026 – Conference Observatory

EU enlargement in the new era: North Macedonia’s perspective

This in-person Policy Briefing with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia, Timcho Mucunski, discussed the state of play and prospects of North Macedonia’s European integration path. It also shined light on the country’s expectations from the EU in the enlargement dossier at this critical geopolitical juncture.

August 17, 2026

EU Enlargement in the New Era: Montenegro’s Perspective

This in-person Policy Briefing with Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro, Maida Gorčević, discussed the state of play and prospects for Montenegro’s European integration path. It also shined light on the country’s expectations from the EU in the enlargement dossier at this critical geopolitical juncture.

August 17, 2026

Democracy Reform Conversation:The future of enlargement and EU reform – the candidates’ perspective

The European Union had long recognised enlargement as a geostrategic investment, and Russia’s act of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 brought back the imperative to widen the Union. However, the EU27 was brief when detailing how it planned to reconcile a transformative enlargement process with a more effective EU of 30+ members.

August 14, 2026

Online Democracy Reform Conversation: A test of times – Permachange through enlargement and EU reform

Like the two strands of the Union’s DNA, enlargement and internal EU reform are necessary and should be thought together. To make good on its membership promise to the current candidates, the Union must adapt its operating system.

July 1, 2025

7th Online Democracy Reform Conversation

What are the prospects for European democracy and citizen participation in the new institutional cycle? What role could civil society play in advancing citizen participation? How does the European Economic and Social Committee, an institution at the heart of the EU democratic model, see the added value of citizen participation?

September 5, 2024

Invitation: The future of EU democracy in a new institutional cycle

The EU is embarking on a new political and institutional cycle. Reforming EU democracy and enhancing citizen participation will remain a priority on the EU political agenda during this new mandate, as emphasised in the European Council’s Strategic Agenda and the political guidelines of Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen. The European Economic and Social Committee in its current mandate also commits to making "a more resilient, more inclusive, and more democratic EU" its central objective.

August 21, 2024

August 17, 2026