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.

Agenda (as of 2 December 2025)

Friday, 13 February 2026

09:00-09:30
Registration and coffee

09:30-09:40
Introduction and welcome

Kristi Raik, Director, ICDS

Siiri Königsberg, Director General, European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia

09:40-10:00
Keynote address

Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement

10:00-11:00
Panel I: Matching the need for speed and the merits-based approach

Which geopolitical interests are not being served due to delays in the EU enlargement/accession? How to secure sincere reforms on the fundamentals for membership? Are the gradual integration mechanisms working? Is there a need to simplify and streamline the pre-accession process and, if so, how? To couple or de-couple candidates?

Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia

Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement

Ervin Ibrahimovic, Deputy Prime Minister for International Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro

Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine (tbc)

Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Negotiator, Moldova

Moderator: Helga Kalm, Deputy Director, ICDS

11:00-11:30
Coffee Break

11:30-13:00
Panel II: Bilateral disputes: when and how to resolve them?

Which types of bilateral disputes belong within and outside the accession negotiations? Who decides, how and when? What are the strengths and weaknesses of EU facilitation and/or external mediation and arbitration?

Brigid Laffan, Professor Emerita, European University Institute

Nikola Dimitrov, former Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of North Macedonia

Aivo Orav, Head of the EU Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative in Kosovo

Manuel Sarrazin, President of the Southeast Europe Association

Moderator: Steven Blockmans, Conference Director, ICDS

13:00-14:00
Lunch

14:00-15:15
Panel III: Costs and benefits of EU enlargement / integration capacity

What are the trends in public support for enlargement in EU member states? How can the EU institutions and member states communicate enlargement more strategically and effectively? How is the EU preparing to finance enlargement under the next 7-year budget? What ideas and plans exist to revise EU policies and governance structures more thoroughly to accommodate new members?

Irena Joveva, Member of the European Parliament

Johannes Tralla, Journalist, ERR

Keit Kasemets, Secretary of State, Government Office of Estonia

Moderator: Heather Grabbe, Senior Fellow, Bruegel

15:15-15:30
Coffee Break

15:30-16:45
Panel IV: A new northern enlargement?

Why is Iceland reconsidering EU membership and what to expect from the referendum? What impact would its outcome have on the EEA and Norway’s position on EU accession? What would a new northern enlargement mean for the EU and how fast could it happen?

Government of Iceland (tbc)

Pernille Rieker, Director of ARENA Centre for European Studies Norway

Government of Sweden (tbc)

Matti Maasikas, Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, EEAS

Moderator: Minna Ålander, Associate Fellow, Chatham House (tbc)

16:45-17:00
Closing keynote address

Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister of European Affairs, Republic of Cyprus (tbc)

17:00-18:00
Reception offered by the Embassy of Cyprus to Estonia

EUEC 2026 is an invitation-only event.