Ljubljana – ESI at European Parliament debate on EU enlargement

Adnan joined discussions. Photo: ESI

ESI senior analyst Adnan Ćerimagić participated online in a public debate titled EU Enlargement: Geopolitical Necessity or Political Illusion?, organised by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Slovenia and held on 7 November 2025 at the EU House in Ljubljana.

The event, part of the Studio Evropa series, brought together Slovenian members of the European Parliament – Irena Joveva (Renew), Marjan Šarec (Renew), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Matej Tonin (EPP), Branko Grims (EPP), and Vladimir Prebilič (Greens) – alongside Faris Kočan from the Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana. The discussion, moderated by journalist Alenka Arko, explored the future of EU enlargement, its geopolitical implications, and the EU’s credibility in the Western Balkans.

The debate was attended by diplomats from the European Union and Western Balkan countries, as well as students and policy professionals. Adnan contributed ESI’s perspective on the urgency of credible enlargement policies, emphasising that the EU’s strategic interest and values must go hand in hand. He presented key findings from ESI’s research on how the EU can make enlargement work through concrete reforms and closer integration with candidate countries.

• 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”