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<\/p>\nThe conference brought together leading researchers, policymakers and civil society representatives to present key findings on how the European Union\u2019s internal dynamics, enlargement policy, and external influences are shaping developments in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region.<\/p>\n
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Opening the conference, Prof. Filip Ejdus<\/b> (FPN) underlined Serbia\u2019s pivotal moment: \u201cSerbia stands at a crossroads \u2014 between deepening authoritarianism and the path to EU integration.\u201d He pointed to growing pressure on the academic community, including surveillance, salary cuts, and shrinking freedoms, framing these as broader threats to democracy and the rule of law.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Geo-33.jpg\")
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Sr\u0111an Cviji\u0107<\/b>, President of the BCSP International Advisory Committee, stressed that \u201cdemocracy can\u2019t be outsourced.\u201d He noted that civil society\u2014particularly youth and students\u2014has taken on the responsibilities that institutions have abandoned under an increasingly authoritarian regime. \u201cThe torch of democracy, extinguished by repression and propaganda, is still being carried forward by citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Geo-38.jpg\")
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In his keynote address, H.E. Emanuele Giaufret<\/b>, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, emphasised the urgency of enlargement in light of global instability: \u201cWe know that we need to move fast, and we need to strengthen our common European interest.\u201d He reaffirmed that while the pace of enlargement may accelerate, the merit-based nature of the process remains essential.<\/p>\n
PANEL I: Europe\u2019s Challenge \u2013 Advancing Enlargement Amid Democratic Backsliding and Geopolitical Pressures<\/b><\/p>\n
The first panel, moderated by Sr\u0111an Cviji\u0107, examined how the EU is addressing democratic regression in candidate countries amidst rising geopolitical tensions.<\/p>\n
Speakers included:<\/p>\n
Focusing on Serbia, Albania, and Georgia, the panel explored contradictions within the enlargement process, showcasing both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities.<\/p>\n
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PANEL II: The EU in the Era of Geopolitics \u2013 Power, Strategy and Influence<\/b><\/p>\n
The second panel, moderated by Filip Ejdus<\/b>, addressed the broader strategic environment influencing EU engagement and enlargement.<\/p>\n
Panelists included:<\/p>\n
Discussions centred on how the EU can maintain credibility and influence in its neighbourhood through clearer strategic vision, more robust democratic conditionality, and consistent investment in regional stability and governance.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Geo-100.jpg\")
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Concluding Remarks & Workshop<\/b><\/p>\n
Dr. Milica Delevi\u0107<\/b>, Director of Governance and Political Affairs at the EBRD, closed the conference by reflecting on the shifting rationale behind enlargement. \u201cSince 2022, we\u2019ve been reminded of the true purpose of this process. Enlargement in the Western Balkans is about reconciliation; in the Eastern Partnership, it\u2019s about shared security.\u201d<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Geo-133.jpg\")
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The following day, the BCSP welcomed colleagues and experts for the REUNIR foresight workshop hosted by Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) from Berlin. The workshop featured interactive sessions on scenario-building and long-term strategic foresight for the Western Balkans. Participants explored possible future trajectories and engaged in lively debate, concluding with a networking lunch.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On 26 May, the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) and the Faculty of Political Sciences (FPN), University of Belgrade, co-organised the conference \u201cFrontlines of Influence: The EU\u2019s Role in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership\u201d. The event was held at the Europe House as part of the GeoPowerEU and REUNIR projects.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":35144,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7415,8615,8613],"tags":[],"vest_saopstenje":[9454],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-35130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bscp","category-eu-en","category-foreign-policy","vest_saopstenje-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35130"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35166,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35130\/revisions\/35166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35130"},{"taxonomy":"vest_saopstenje","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vest_saopstenje?post=35130"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bezbednost.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=35130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}