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Monday, October 5, 2026<\/strong>
\n16:30 to 20:10, followed by reception<\/strong>
\nKonrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Academy<\/strong>
\nTiergarten\u00adstra\u00dfe 35, 10785 Berlin<\/strong><\/h4>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=\u201cnone\u201d]<\/p>\n
The Center for Liberal Modernity together with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung cordially invite you to attend our inter\u00adna\u00adtional conference \u201cThe Future of EU Enlargement: EU Integration as a Geopo\u00adlitical Necessity\u201d on Monday, October 5, 2026<\/strong> at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Academy.<\/p>\nIn the fifth year of Russia\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union faces the challenge of adjusting its enlargement policy to the evolving geopo\u00adlitical landscape.<\/p>\n
Against this backdrop, the debate on models of gradual EU integration is gaining impor\u00adtance and is being discussed by policy\u00admakers, academics, and the candidate countries. At the same time, this debate has increas\u00adingly become a target of Russian influence efforts aimed at spreading anti-European narra\u00adtives, such as the alleged loss of national sover\u00adeignty, thereby desta\u00adbil\u00adising democ\u00adratic societies in Eastern and South\u00adeastern Europe.<\/p>\n
The inter\u00adna\u00adtional conference addresses both of these closely inter\u00adcon\u00adnected devel\u00adop\u00adments. First, it will discuss current concepts of gradual EU integration and their impli\u00adca\u00adtions for the candidate countries Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro<\/strong>. Particular attention will be given to the oppor\u00adtu\u00adnities that gradual integration or associated membership may offer for the future of EU enlargement policy. Second, the conference will analyse Russian infor\u00admation manip\u00adu\u00adlation as a tool used against democ\u00adratic devel\u00adopment in the EU\u2019s neighbourhood.<\/p>\nThe event will open at 16:30 with welcoming remarks from Mark Speich<\/strong>, Secretary-General of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and Marieluise Beck<\/strong>, Senior Fellow for Eastern Europe at the Center for Liberal Modernity. After\u00adwards, Gunther Krichbaum<\/strong> MP<\/strong>, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office, and Maida Gor\u010devi\u0107<\/strong>, Minister for European Affairs of Montenegro, will deliver keynote speeches.<\/p>\nKey questions of the conference:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- How can the European Union strike a balance between geopo\u00adlitical action, insti\u00adtu\u00adtional credi\u00adbility, and long-term enlargement prospects?<\/li>\n
- Which insti\u00adtu\u00adtional reforms does the EU need to implement gradual integration credibly?<\/li>\n
- How can gradual integration or associated membership be designed in practice?<\/li>\n
- How are concepts of gradual EU integration perceived in public and expert debates?<\/li>\n
- Which narra\u00adtives and instru\u00adments does Russia use to undermine public support for European integration and obstruct reform processes?<\/li>\n
- What cross-country patterns can be identified in Russian influence activ\u00adities, and how can the European Union and its partners respond effectively?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
We further cordially invite you to our reception which will take place after the conference.<\/p>\n
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REGISTRATION<\/a><\/div> PROGRAMME<\/a><\/div> [vc_\u200bcolumn_\u200btext css_animation=\u201cnone\u201d]\nProgramme<\/strong><\/h3>\n16:30 \u2013 16:45 | WELCOME REMARKS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Mark Speich<\/strong>, Secretary General, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung<\/li>\n
- Marieluise Beck<\/strong>, Senior Fellow, Center for Liberal Modernity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
16:45 \u2013 17:15 | KEYNOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Gunther Krichbaum<\/strong> MP (CDU\/\u200bCSU), Minister of State for Europe, Federal Foreign Office, Germany<\/li>\n
- Maida Gor\u010devi\u0107<\/strong>, Minister of European Affairs, Montenegro<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
17:15 \u2013 18:30 | PANEL 1<\/strong><\/p>\nGradual Integration and Associated Membership \u2013 A New Dynamic in EU Enlargement Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Maida Gor\u010devi\u0107<\/strong>, Minister of European Affairs, Montenegro<\/li>\n
- Liubov Akulenko<\/strong>, Executive Director, Ukrainian Centre for European Policy (UCEP), Ukraine<\/li>\n
- Anastasia Pociumban<\/strong>, Research Fellow, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)<\/li>\n
- David Preisendanz<\/strong> MP, Rapporteur for EU Enlargement Policy, CDU\/\u200bCSU Parlia\u00admentary Group in the German Bundestag<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Moder\u00adation: Matthias Hespe<\/strong>, Policy Advisor Eastern Europe, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung<\/p>\n18:30 \u2013 18:45 | BREAK<\/strong><\/p>\n18:45 \u2013 20:00 | PANEL 2<\/strong><\/p>\nRussia\u2019s Playbook Against EU Enlargement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Saba Brachveli<\/strong>, Human Rights Program Manager, Civil Society Foundation, Georgia<\/li>\n
- Denis Cenusa<\/strong>, Geopo\u00adlitical Analyst, Associated Expert, Geopol\u00aditics and Security Studies Center, Lithuania<\/li>\n
- Chantal Kopf<\/strong> MP, Spokesperson for European Policy, Alliance 90\/\u200bThe Greens parlia\u00admentary group in the German Bundestag<\/li>\n
- Areg Kochinyan<\/strong>, President, Armenian Council, Armenia<\/li>\n
- Dmytro Shulga<\/strong>, Director of the European Programme, Inter\u00adna\u00adtional Renais\u00adsance Foundation (IRF), Ukraine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Moder\u00adation: Khatia Kikalishvili<\/strong>, Programme Director Eastern Partnership, Center for Liberal Modernity<\/p>\n20:00 \u2013 20:10 | CLOSING REMARKS<\/strong><\/p>\nRalf F\u00fccks<\/strong>, Managing Director, Center for Liberal Modernity<\/p>\n20:10 | RECEPTION<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=\u201cnone\u201d]t<\/span><\/p>\nThe conference will be simul\u00adta\u00adne\u00adously trans\u00adlated into German and English.<\/p>\n
Please note:<\/strong> Partic\u00adi\u00adpation is only possible on site and after receiving confir\u00admation of regis\u00adtration. If you have any questions, please contact Khatia Kiaklishvili<\/strong>, Programme Director for Eastern Partnership, at khatia.kikalishvili@libmod.de<\/a>.<\/p>\nWe look forward to your partic\u00adi\u00adpation and to the joint discussion.
\nT<\/span><\/p>\nSupported by:<\/p>\n
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In the fifth year of Russia\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union faces the challenge of adjusting its enlargement policy to the evolving geopo\u00adlitical landscape.<\/p>\n
Against this backdrop, the debate on models of gradual EU integration is gaining impor\u00adtance and is being discussed by policy\u00admakers, academics, and the candidate countries. At the same time, this debate has increas\u00adingly become a target of Russian influence efforts aimed at spreading anti-European narra\u00adtives, such as the alleged loss of national sover\u00adeignty, thereby desta\u00adbil\u00adising democ\u00adratic societies in Eastern and South\u00adeastern Europe.<\/p>\n
The inter\u00adna\u00adtional conference addresses both of these closely inter\u00adcon\u00adnected devel\u00adop\u00adments. First, it will discuss current concepts of gradual EU integration and their impli\u00adca\u00adtions for the candidate countries Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro<\/strong>. Particular attention will be given to the oppor\u00adtu\u00adnities that gradual integration or associated membership may offer for the future of EU enlargement policy. Second, the conference will analyse Russian infor\u00admation manip\u00adu\u00adlation as a tool used against democ\u00adratic devel\u00adopment in the EU\u2019s neighbourhood.<\/p>\n The event will open at 16:30 with welcoming remarks from Mark Speich<\/strong>, Secretary-General of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and Marieluise Beck<\/strong>, Senior Fellow for Eastern Europe at the Center for Liberal Modernity. After\u00adwards, Gunther Krichbaum<\/strong> MP<\/strong>, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office, and Maida Gor\u010devi\u0107<\/strong>, Minister for European Affairs of Montenegro, will deliver keynote speeches.<\/p>\n Key questions of the conference:<\/strong><\/p>\n We further cordially invite you to our reception which will take place after the conference.<\/p>\n [\/\u200bvc_\u200bcolumn_\u200btext]<\/p> 16:30 \u2013 16:45 | WELCOME REMARKS<\/strong><\/p>\n 16:45 \u2013 17:15 | KEYNOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n 17:15 \u2013 18:30 | PANEL 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Gradual Integration and Associated Membership \u2013 A New Dynamic in EU Enlargement Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n Moder\u00adation: Matthias Hespe<\/strong>, Policy Advisor Eastern Europe, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung<\/p>\n 18:30 \u2013 18:45 | BREAK<\/strong><\/p>\n 18:45 \u2013 20:00 | PANEL 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Russia\u2019s Playbook Against EU Enlargement<\/strong><\/p>\n Moder\u00adation: Khatia Kikalishvili<\/strong>, Programme Director Eastern Partnership, Center for Liberal Modernity<\/p>\n 20:00 \u2013 20:10 | CLOSING REMARKS<\/strong><\/p>\n Ralf F\u00fccks<\/strong>, Managing Director, Center for Liberal Modernity<\/p>\n 20:10 | RECEPTION<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=\u201cnone\u201d]t<\/span><\/p>\n The conference will be simul\u00adta\u00adne\u00adously trans\u00adlated into German and English.<\/p>\n Please note:<\/strong> Partic\u00adi\u00adpation is only possible on site and after receiving confir\u00admation of regis\u00adtration. If you have any questions, please contact Khatia Kiaklishvili<\/strong>, Programme Director for Eastern Partnership, at khatia.kikalishvili@libmod.de<\/a>.<\/p>\n We look forward to your partic\u00adi\u00adpation and to the joint discussion. Supported by:<\/p>\n t<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n
Programme<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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