{
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"Rosa Balfour",
"Iliriana Gjoni",
"Stefan Lehne",
"Gert Jan Koopman"
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Rethinking Integration to Accelerate EU Enlargement
Thu, November 6th, 2025
Carnegie Europe Office & Live Online
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Amid Russia’s continuing aggression and a changing global order, the geopolitical necessity of EU enlargement has never been clearer. Yet, the process faces significant challenges, with no candidate country on the cusp of joining the union.
The concept of gradual integration, where candidates committed to reforms are granted EU single market access before formal accession, could inject new momentum into enlargement. While this approach has delivered some results, several political, legal, economic, and procedural hurdles must be overcome to fully leverage its potential.
To discuss the challenges, opportunities, and real-world practicalities of gradual integration, Carnegie Europe invites you to a public event with Stefan Lehne, senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and co-author of the paper Access Before Accession: Rethinking the EU’s Gradual Integration. He will be joined by Gert Jan Koopman, director-general for enlargement and eastern neighborhood at the European Commission and Iliriana Gjoni, research analyst at Carnegie Europe. The discussion will be moderated by Carnegie Europe Director Rosa Balfour.
This event is part of “Let’s talk about completing the Union” – a series of conversations ahead of the 2025 EU Enlargement Forum “Completing the Union, Securing Our Future,” a flagship initiative of the European Commission and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
A light reception will follow.
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
Event Speakers
Rosa Balfour
Director, Carnegie Europe
Rosa Balfour is the director of Carnegie Europe. Her fields of expertise include European politics, institutions, and foreign and security policy.
Iliriana Gjoni
Research Analyst, Carnegie Europe
Iliriana Gjoni is a research analyst at Carnegie Europe, where she focuses on EU enlargement and Western Balkan politics.
Stefan Lehne
Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe
Stefan Lehne is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe in Brussels, where his research focuses on the post–Lisbon Treaty development of the European Union’s foreign policy, with a specific focus on relations between the EU and member states.
Gert Jan Koopman
Director-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood, European Commission
Gert Jan Koopman is the director-general for enlargement and eastern neighborhood at the European Commission.