The 'EU and Western Balkans: 20 Years after the Big Bang Enlargement' Round Table (A Recording is Available)
On 18 March 2024, the Centre of International Relations at the Faculty of Social Sciences organised a round table titled 'EU and the Western Balkans: 20 Years after the Big Bang Enlargement' in partnership with the European Commission, Representation in Slovenia, and the Friends of Western Balkans. The event attracted more than 80 participants, including policy makers, diplomats, academics, journalists and students.
In her introductory speech, prof. dr. Andreja Jaklič, Head of the 'Slovenia and its actors in international relations and European integration' Research Programme (P5-0177), stressed the importance of research for the identification of opportunities, informed and strategic policy making, evaluation of the success as well as social, environmental and economic impacts of policy implementation. She emphasized that exchange of knowledge and experience among researchers, policy makers, business representatives and other practitioners can have the innovative power when searching for solutions to the complex challenges the international community is faced with.
Introductory remarks by dr. Jerneja Jug Jerše, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia followed.
Speakers at the round table Borut Pahor (President of the Republic of Slovenia between 2012 and 2022), Radmila Šekerinska (Minister of Defence of North Macedonia between 2017 and 2022), and Boris Tadić (President of the Republic of Serbia between 2004 and 2012) then highlighted the importance of greater mutual understanding and respect, as well as boldness in the (joint!) search for innovative solutions aimed at the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union. They moreover emphasized that the relationship between the countries of the Western Balkans and the European Union needs to become more balanced and should not be based solely on unilateral demands for adaptation. This is because the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union is important for the security and well-being of both the countries of the Western Balkans and the European Union. The speakers agreed that the European Union needs to move from words to actions if it wants to restore its legitimacy and political power in the region.
The debate was facilitated by prof. dr. Dejan Verčič from the Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Ljubljana). A recording of the event (prepared by MA marketing d.o.o.) is available here.
Photographer: Marko Pigac
The round table took place as part of the 'Slovenia and its actors in international relations and European integration' Research Programme (P5-0177), financially supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency.