On 26 February, #DemocracyDrinks returned to the Humanity Hub with a discussion on one of the European Union’s most pressing strategic questions: enlargement. The conversation focused on the democratic challenges facing the Western Balkans and how, amid growing geopolitical tensions in the region, these countries fit into the framework of EU membership.
The discussion featured Marko Makovec, Slovenian diplomat and former Head of Cabinet to the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, and Thijs Reuten, Member of the European Parliament, and was moderated by Annefloor Robijn of the Max van der Stoel Foundation.
Key takeaways
- The enlargement of the EU is a matter of security, but above all of democratic preservation and development.
- Internal discussions, blockages, and other challenges within the European Union should not slow down the Enlargement’s progress.
- The European Union must be seen as a family, as a whole; it should not be limited geographically, and it should be working as a bloc towards unanimous decisions.
- Reverse membership, when legally tested, could be an interesting discussion for candidate countries that need urgent attention.
“The enlargement debate has been technical, strategic, and slow moving. Now there’s a momentum; now it’s a matter of security” – Marko Makovec
Marko highlights the EU’s necessity to remain solution oriented. “The world has drastically changed after the Cold War, and the European Union must adapt to an order that no longer responds to multilateralist logics”. The EU’s enlargement must adapt to that change, to “protect the common markets and citizens from new threats”.
The Netherlands: a key actor
Annefloor brought the debate to The Netherlands and asked what, as a country, needs to be done for the enlargement to work in the next years. Thijs highlighted the importance of “creativity in terms of rapid and practical solutions for the EU as a whole and the Western Balkans in particular”. He appealed to full commitment from the government. “We need to talk about the importance of uniting these countries. We need to explain this particularity in an inclusive and positive way”, and he believes The Netherlands should be at the forefront of the debate.
How does education fit within the debate?
It was later brought to light the importance of education and its role in the enlargement, and Marko revealed its role as a solid part of the EU core values. “Education is an integral part of the transformative process. We invest largely in education in the candidate countries; we just need to see how to include it in the existing arrangements”.
Thijs reminded the audience that “we need to move forward because this situation is very urgent, especially for Ukraine. Our collective security is at stake as a bloc.”
About Democracy Drinks The Hague
Democracy Drinks The Hague is a regular event series that brings together professionals, researchers, policymakers, and civil society actors to discuss pressing issues related to democracy and the rule of law.
The series is coordinated by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC), and The Hague Humanity Hub, and regularly partners with organisations across the peace, justice, and democracy ecosystem.
The 26 February edition on EU enlargement was organised in collaboration with Western Balkans Symposia and partners including PAX, Free Press Unlimited, the Dutch Albanian Foundation, the Max van der Stoel Foundation, and the Committee for Humanitarian Intervention.
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