On Monday, President of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, together with Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos will host in Brussels the second EU Enlargement Forum, entitled ‘Wider Europe – Stronger Europe’. The event will bring together political leaders, civil society, youth and business representatives from EU Member States and enlargement partners to discuss the way forward towards a more complete and stronger Union.
The Enlargement Forum will open with remarks by Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, followed by keynote addresses from President von der Leyen and President of Finland, Alexander Stubb. During the event, participants will discuss the role of enlargement in anchoring peace, stability and prosperity across the European continent, with a particular focus on how reforms, investments and growth can drive a merit-based enlargement process and contribute to European security and resilience.
President of the European Council, António Costa, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, as well as President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu, Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhii Koretskyi, Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajić, and Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski, among others are set to attend the event.
The Forum will provide an opportunity to discuss this year’s Enlargement package and the progress achieved by enlargement partners over the past twelve months, as well as the indicative roadmaps for the most advanced negotiating countries that were presented earlier this month, providing Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine with a clear reform path for the year ahead. The Forum will also provide an opportunity to discuss the recent Communication ‘Preparing for a wider Europe’, including how the EU can prepare to welcome new members, while ensuring that a larger Union is also stronger, more resilient and more effective.
Ahead of the Forum, on Sunday, Commissioner Kos will host a reception, featuring a concert of music from the candidate countries. More information on the Forum, including the livestream, is available on our webpage.
