📩 Lisaks RKK/ICDS uudiskirjas:
- ELi laienemise konverents: kaks sammu edasi, üks samm tagasi? #EUEC2026
- Mele Pesti: Ameerikate tants vägivalla ja austuse vahel
- Eerik Niiles-Kross: Eesti peab muutuma õhuruumist õhujõuks
@icds-tallinn.bsky.social @eeriknkross.bsky.social
This year’s edition of the EU Enlargement Conference has come to a close.
🤝 We are grateful to all participants, speakers, partners and volunteers for their engagement and contributions throughout the event.
Photo gallery: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKecx
#EUEC2026
Although support for EU membership has not risen by much, the public has warmed up to having a debate.
— Pernille Rieker, Director of ARENA Centre for European Studies Norway
@prieker.bsky.social @unioslo-arena.bsky.social
Panel IV: A new northern enlargement? #EUEC2026
EU Enlargement Conference: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? #EUEC2026
Costs and benefits of enlargement / integration capacity
@miriamkosmehl.bsky.social, Johannes Tralla, Irena Joveva, @keitkasemets.bsky.social @heathergrabbe.bsky.social
📸 flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKecx
🎦 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikjl...
Anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine are a fire brigade. We now need a backup in the form of the judiciary.
Enlargement is possible because Ukraine has tremendous social capital.
— @miriamkosmehl.bsky.social, Senior Expert Eastern Europe @bertelsmannst.bsky.social
#EUEC2026
EU enlargement is not a technical or merit-based issue; everything stands or falls on political will.
If there's one, and if we act as one, it will be really helpful not only for the candidate countries but also for us.
— Irena Joveva, Member of the European Parliament
#EUEC2026
During the latest uproar in the Arctic, with President Trump threatening Greenland, it immediately started a discussion in Iceland.
— Guðni Jóhannesson, Professor of History, University of Iceland, former President of Iceland
#EUEC2026
The business argument may not win hearts and minds in EU debates, but it is a very strong supportive argument. Economic force is also part of our security.
— Asees Ahuja, Director EU Policy, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
#EUEC2026
I don't think an economic argument will win EU membership discussions in Norway and Iceland. The opportunity to turn to a larger power during crisis might.
— Matti Maasikas, Deputy Secretary General for Geoeconomics and Interinstitutional Issues @eudiplomacy.bsky.social
#EUEC2026
EU Enlargement Conference 2026: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? #EUEC2026
Panel IV: A new northern enlargement?
Guðni Jóhannesson, @prieker.bsky.social, Matti Maasikas, Asees Ahuja
Moderator: @alanderminna.bsky.social
📸 flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKecx
🎦 www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE8B...
The one issue with the Western Balkans is that they have been preparing for 20 years without a clear perspective.
We need a concrete time frame not only for Ukraine but also for other candidates.
— Keit Kasemets, Secretary of State, @estoniangovt.bsky.social
@keitkasemets.bsky.social #EUEC2026
How the Balkans idealise the EU and potential accession can serve as a valuable reflection on how we see the EU.
These countries are serious about the accession process in the same way we were 20 years ago.
— Johannes Tralla, Journalist at the Estonian Public Broadcasting
#EUEC2026
In the Western Balkans, the US has very much been the doer and the EU the talker. The new US administration has publicly said that they do not wish to have this role any more.
This means we, ourselves, and the EU need to take an active role. — Nikola Dimitrov 🇲🇰
@ndimitrov.bsky.social
#EUEC2026
#EUEC2026 Panel IV: A new northern enlargement?
Guðni Jóhannesson, @prieker.bsky.social, Matti Maasikas, Asees Ahuja
Moderator: @alanderminna.bsky.social
🔴 LIVE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE8B...
"If two countries have different approaches to history, they are unlikely to have a happy future together."
— Aivo Orav, Head of the EU Office in Kosovo and EU Special Representative in Kosovo
@euambks.bsky.social
#EUEC2026
Panel II of #EUEC2026 | Bilateral disputes: when and how to resolve them?
One challenge discussed: an EU member state can wield enormous power over a candidate country in a bilateral dispute. This requires an EU-level solution.
🎦 Re-Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0s1...
It was a strategic missed opportunity on behalf of the EU not to send a signal to Western Balkans that it is worth investing [in bilateral dispute resolution] and that the EU will be there for you.
— @ndimitrov.bsky.social, President, Balkan Center for Constructive Policies 🇲🇰
#EUEC2026
"EU membership fundamentally altered the Irish–British relationship. The EU gave Ireland the psychological confidence that it didn't have before membership."
— Brigid Laffan, Professor Emerita, European University Institute.
@brigidlaffan.bsky.social
#EUEC2026
EU Enlargement Conference 2026: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? #EUEC2026
Bilateral disputes: when and how to resolve them?
@brigidlaffan.bsky.social, @ndimitrov.bsky.social, @euambks.bsky.social
Moderator: @stevenblockmans.bsky.social
📸 flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKecx
🎦 www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0s1...
The European Union enlargement methodology was made for peaceful times... — yet we are living in times that are quite the opposite.
For the first time, we have outside forces that want to see us fail as enlargement project — we have to react, said Marta Kos. @martakos.ec.europa.eu
#EUEC2026
#EUEC2026 Panel II:
Bilateral disputes: when and how to resolve them?
Speakers: @brigidlaffan.bsky.social, @ndimitrov.bsky.social, @euambks.bsky.social
Moderator: @stevenblockmans.bsky.social, European Union Enlargement Conference Director, ICDS
🔴 WATCH: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0s1...
#EUEC2026 Panel III: Costs and benefits of EU enlargement / integration capacity
Speakers: @miriamkosmehl.bsky.social, Johannes Tralla, Irena Joveva, @keitkasemets.bsky.social
Moderator: @heathergrabbe.bsky.social
🔴 LIVE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikjl...
EU enlargement is the most successful geostrategic tool we have to shape our environment.
We are enlarging the zone of security, stability, and prosperity.
It is not about helping others, it is about helping ourselves. — @vseviov.bsky.social, Secretary General @mfaestonia.bsky.social
#EUEC2026
"Accession is our only guarantee to preserve our sovereignty and consolidate democracy."
— Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of Moldova
#EUEC2026
One of the cornerstones of a lasting peace in Ukraine is our accession to the EU. It is a geopolitical reality.
We are serious about the timing and recognise that it is not a shortcut.
— Taras Kachka, Deputy PM for European & Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine
#EUEC2026
EU Enlargement Conference 2026: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? #EUEC2026
Matching the need for speed and the merits-based approach
@martakos.ec.europa.eu, Taras Kachka, Cristina Gherasimov, @iivanisevic.bsky.social, @vseviov.bsky.social. Moderator: Helga Kalm
🎦 www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGG9...
Future accession treaties should have stronger safeguards against sliding back on commitments. [...] And those safeguards must bite hard, said Marta Kos in her keynote address.
@martakos.ec.europa.eu
#EUEC2026
Re-watch the introduction and welcoming remarks by Steven Blockmans and Margus Tsahkna and the keynote address by Marta Kos.
@martakos.ec.europa.eu @tsahkna.bsky.social @stevenblockmans.bsky.social
#EUEC2026
Russia wants darkness. Europe delivers light.
Russia wants fear. Europe brings solidarity.
Russia wants Ukrainian children to forget their identity. Europe brings hope.
Let's make Europe great again, and let's talk about what is already great in Europe. @martakos.ec.europa.eu
#EUEC2026
"We need to understand what kind of Europe we want in the future."
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna underlined the need to find courage and responsibility in Europe in his opening speech at the EU Enlargement Conference.
@tsahkna.bsky.social @mfaestonia.bsky.social
#EUEC2026
