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

"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

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

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

The new momentum in the EU enlargement process stems largely from the geopolitical context, including Europe’s push for a stronger voice in the US-mediated effort to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, said conference director @stevenblockmans.bsky.social in his opening remarks. 1/2 #EUEC2026

HAPPENING NOW | EU Enlargement Conference: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? Keynote address: Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement @martakos.ec.europa.eu 🔴 Follow us LIVE: www.youtube.com/live/rGG95L5... #EUEC2026

🔔 European Union Enlargement Conference is about to start! Participants will discuss the prospects for Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, and other countries to join the EU at a time when the enlargement process has gained new momentum. @mfaestonia.bsky.social #EUEC2026

Exceptional circumstances demand exceptional measures. Now is the moment to rethink the EU’s enlargement process and introduce much-needed flexibility. An analysis by Steven Blockmans and Michael Emerson ahead of the EU Enlargement Conference. #EUEC2026 @stevenblockmans.bsky.social

Eurooplaste väitlus selle üle, kas Vene-Ukraina rahukõnelusteks tuleks nimetada eriesindaja, on kaasa toonud nii palju segadust ja lahkhelisid,et maailmajagu ei saa veel pidada tõsiseltvõetavaks strateegiliseks tegutsejaks, leiab RKK direktor Kristi Raik. @kristiraik.bsky.social RKK uudiskiri ⬇️

Connectivity has become a means for states to project influence, contest rivals, and shape global order. Today, Bart Gaens, Wrenn Yennie Lindgren, Jagannath Panda, Ville Sinkkonen and Prannavan Surendran present their new report on Japan’s use of strategic connectivity. @sinkkonenville.bsky.social

The EU enlargement process received a jolt of energy in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and saw major developments in 2025. ↘️ This momentum will be reflected at the EU Enlargement Conference in Tallinn on 13 February: icds.ee/en/euec-2026/ #EUEC2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi now has a strong mandate to pursue domestic reforms and her foreign policy agenda. What does the election result mean for Japan's domestic politics and international posture? Commentary by Bart Gaens and Prannavan Surendran.

📣 EU Enlargement Conference 2026: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? The conference is co-organised by the ICDS and the @mfaestonia.bsky.social in partnership with the European Commission Representation in Estonia, the Embassy of Sweden in Tallinn, and the Embassy of Cyprus to Estonia. #EUEC2026

Talk that is not backed by credible hard power is counterproductive vis-à-vis an aggressive, revisionist power such as Russia. Russia is not yet under sufficient pressure to make it interested in ending the war, writes Kristi Raik. @kristiraik.bsky.social

USA ja Venemaa oleksid valmis Euroopat kaasama ainult siis, kui Euroopa survestaks Ukrainat järeleandmistele. Täna saab Euroopa hoopis toetada Ukrainat, tugevdada oma sõjalist võimekust ja Venemaa-vastaseid sanktsioone. @kristiraik.bsky.social 🎧 Raadio Kuku: kuku.pleier.ee/podcast/sihi...

It is not in Europe’s interest to join the talks in order to become a party to a bad deal that would increase the likelihood of a new invasion of Ukraine or even a broader war on the continent, writes Kristi Raik. @kristiraik.bsky.social

Exceptional circumstances demand exceptional measures. Now is the moment to rethink the EU’s enlargement process and introduce much-needed flexibility. An analysis by Steven Blockmans and Michael Emerson ahead of the EU Enlargement Conference. #EUEC2026 @stevenblockmans.bsky.social

As US commitments grow more conditional and strategic priorities shift, the alignment between deterrence, reassurance, and restraint is weakening. In this environment, managed unpredictability risks multiplying rather than containing instability, writes David Cattler.

Kuigi tõelise rahu saavutamine 2026. aastal on ebatõenäoline, on mõte Ukraina võimalikust ülikiirest liitumisest sundinud Euroopa Komisjoni otsima uusi lahendusi. Steven Blockmans ja Michael Emerson analüüsivad RKK uudiskirjas ELi laienemise hetkeseisu.

There is ample experience of negotiating with Putin, with little to show for it. Debating who should represent Europe now is premature and counterproductive, signalling weakness and inviting attempts to fracture European unity, writes Igor Gretskiy.

#REUNIRRelatedPublication originally published by ICDS 📚𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐔 𝐄𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 2026: 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬 ✍️ @stevenblockmans.bsky.social & Michael Emerson @ceps.eu, @icds-tallinn.bsky.social 🌐Read here reunir-horizon.eu/the-state-of... @horizoneu.bsky.social

New Delhi's efforts to manage uncertainty with Washington while keeping stability with Beijing are giving Europe a chance to become a consequential partner, writes Anna Maria Treifeldt.

As India seeks predictable partnerships and supply-chain diversification, Europe appears to be finding a timely opening as uncertainty over the Quad prompts New Delhi to reassess Washington’s reliability, writes Anna Maria Treifeldt.

Europe's risk today lies less in catastrophic failure than in incremental erosion—small, rational moves that narrow room for manoeuvre. The greatest danger is assuming managed unpredictability will resolve itself without consequence, writes David Cattler.

There is now a rare opportunity to rewrite the rules behind the long and arduous enlargement process and introduce much-needed flexibility. Exceptional circumstances call for exceptional measures, write Steven Blockmans and Michael Emerson. @stevenblockmans.bsky.social @ceps.eu

Last week, REUNIR researchers and policy experts gathered in Berlin for the Policy Design Workshop led by @gppi.bsky.social The workshop developed policy recommendations underlining the importance of preparedness for both cooperative & competitive futures in 🇪🇺 neighbourhood @horizoneu.bsky.social

The People’s Republic of China remains high on the National Defence Strategy agenda, just behind the newly prioritised Western Hemisphere and far ahead of the de-prioritised Russia, writes Toomas Hanso.

Washington’s tactics towards Beijing have shifted considerably: more communication, less confrontation. ⬇️ Toomas Hanso examines the US stance on China in the new National Defence Strategy.

Olukord Ukrainas on ei midagi vähemat kui humanitaarkatastroof, kus inimesed peavad tugevate miinuskraadidega hakkama saama ilma elektri, vee ja soojuseta. Vähe on märke, et Venemaa sel talvel survet vähendaks, kirjutab Marek Kohv RKK uudiskirjas. @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

Today, we hosted the #McCainGlobalLeaders regional cohort to discuss disinformation, sovereignty, and the growing challenges facing democratic systems and shared Estonia’s perspective on these issues. @mccaininstitute.bsky.social

There is ample experience of negotiating with Putin, with little to show for it. Debating who should represent Europe now is premature and counterproductive, signalling weakness and inviting attempts to fracture European unity, writes Igor Gretskiy.

Drawing Europe into a debate over who should represent it in negotiations with Putin is premature and harmful. Notably absent from calls to renew contacts with the Kremlin is any clear sense of purpose, writes Igor Gretskiy.