LIVE: EU Enlargement Conference 2026: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back?

In the most recent EU enlargement package, more progress has been reported than for many years. It is significant that the European Commission has acknowledged the aspirations of four ‘key enlargement partners’ for completing accession negotiations: Montenegro in 2026, Albania in 2027, Moldova and Ukraine in 2028. For that to happen, the pace of reforms would have to be kept up or even accelerated. Some of these candidate countries have crucial statehood issues to resolve beyond the processing of chapters and clusters. Other candidates are being realistic in not setting target dates at this stage, given various political impasses. On the side of the EU, ways are needed to prepare policies and governance structures for enlargement and to overcome dysfunctional impediments to accession, like veto blockages for the opening of chapters for reasons unconnected to the EU acquis. Also, hearts and minds need to be won in member states to support the ratification of the upcoming Accession Treaties. These and other issues, like a potential drive towards a new round of northern enlargement, will be discussed at the 2026 edition of the EU Enlargement Conference in Tallinn.

Read the analysis The State of EU Enlargement at the Outset of 2026: On The Brink of Major Breakthroughs (Steven Blockmans and Michael Emerson)

EUEC 2026 is an invitation-only event. It will be livestreamed.