Brussels – ESI at roundtable on Ukraine’s path to EU membership

Adnan spoke at a roundtable in Brussels. Photo: ESI

Adnan Ćerimagić, ESI senior analyst, took part in a roundtable discussion on “Navigating Ukraine’s Path to EU Membership – Bridging Ambition and Reality,” held on 28 May 2026 in the premises of the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the European Union in Brussels.

The discussion brought together policymakers to examine the political realities of Ukraine’s accession process, the implications of ongoing peace negotiations, and options for advancing Ukraine’s integration with the European Union. Participants also explored the broader consequences for the future of EU enlargement and the challenges of balancing geopolitical urgency with the Union’s merit-based accession framework.

Adnan provided expert input on the political dimensions of Ukraine’s accession process, drawing on ESI’s research on enlargement policy and the experiences of previous candidate countries. He discussed how the EU can support Ukraine’s integration while preserving the credibility of enlargement for other candidates, including those in the Western Balkans.

ESI continues to contribute to European debates on enlargement, democratic reforms, and the future of European integration, drawing lessons from both the Western Balkans and the EU’s evolving approach to Ukraine.

• ESI proposal: “Vision and interests – Jean Monnet in Ukraine”
• ESI proposal: “Preventing violence – transform Kosovo dialogue”
• ESI background: “Scoreboard - The true state of accession - What the Commission assessments reveal”
• ESI proposal: “End the turtle race How the EU can address the crisis of the accession process”
• ESI proposal: “Offer the four freedoms to the Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova For a merit-based EU accession process with a credible goal”
• ESI proposal: “47 again? Russia out, Kosovo in Support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe”
• ESI proposal: “Abandon clichés about Bosnia: Push EU-related reforms instead of arbitrary conditions”
• ESI proposal: “No partition: Why Kosovo and Serbia must not discuss territory”
• ESI report: “Anti-Corruption Report for the West Balkans: Measure corruption in order to fight it”