The Forum is a strategic foresight conference that brings together a select group of government officials and independent leaders to discuss Europe’s options in the context of the EU enlargement process.
Europe cannot afford another enlargement failure; such an outcome would weaken the continent, increase vulnerability, deplete resources, and render one of the EU’s most influential foreign policy tools ineffective for decades.
Thus, in 2024 the Forum explores critical policy options for the EU enlargement process ahead of expected pivotal moments, such as the Polish Presidency of the EU Council 2025.
It builds upon a network of trusted partnerships and expertise to inform the policymaking process and second options that improve Europe’s democratic security.
Key facts about the event:
Welcome reception with a Fireside chat
Jan Krzysztof BIELECKI, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland (PL)
Jacob TUROWSKI, Public Policy Director, CEE, Meta (PL)
Moderator: Magdalena JAKUBOWSKA, Vice President, Res Publica Foundation (PL)
This event is supported by Meta.
Breakfast
Keynote by Cristina GHERASIMOV, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Government of the Republic of Moldova (MDA)
Lunch – South-Eastern Europe
By invitation of Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland
Keynote by Ivan VEJVODA, Permanent Fellow, Head of Europe’s Futures, Institute for Human Sciences – IWM (RS)
Reception – South-Eastern Europe
By invitation of H.E. Ambassador Andreas Stadler
Welcome coffee
Opening
Wojciech PRZYBYLSKI, Editor-in-Chief, Visegrad Insight – Res Publica Foundation (PL)
Europe in 2024. Where Do We Come From and What’s Ahead for the European Union?
Keynote by Marek PRAWDA, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PL)
Enlargement Endurance: How Shall We Debate Our Philosophy of EU Membership?
Keynote by Kalypso NICOLAÏDIS, Chair in Global Affairs at the School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute (FR)
2025 EU Council Presidencies. Opportunities Not To Miss
Eduard HULICIUS, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (CZ)
Henryka MOŚCICKA-DENDYS, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PL)
Moderator: Marzenna GUZ-VETTER, Senior Fellow, Visegrad Insight (PL)
Coffee break
How the New Members Will Improve the EU: Security, Prosperity, Democracy? Make a Case for Enlargement
Vincent GUÉREND, Director for European Affairs, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France (FR)
Charlotte RUHE, Managing Director, Central and South Eastern Europe, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BE)
Manuel SARRAZIN, German Federal Government Special Representative for the Countries of the Western Balkans (DE)
Moderator: Oana POPESCU-ZAMFIR, Director, GlobalFocus Center (RO)
Lunch
Inspirational Chat: Europe’s Global Role
Peter GRK, Secretary-General of Bled Strategic Forum, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia (SI)
Valbona ZENELI, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council of the United States (AL)
Moderator: Rosa BALFOUR, Director of Carnegie Europe (BE)
Business Cases for Enlargement
Iain BEGG, Professorial Research Fellow at the European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science (UK)
Kateryna KRUK, Regional Public Policy Lead Central and Eastern Europe, Meta (UA)
Ignacy NIEMCZYCKI, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (PL)
Moderator: Martin EHL, Hospodářské noviny (CZ)
Coffee break
Friends of Enlargement Needed Now
Nikola DIMITROV, former Minister of Foreign Affairs for North Macedonia (MK)
Miriam KOSMEHL, Senior Expert Eastern Europe and EU Neighbourhood, Bertelsmann Stiftung (DE)
Nicolas TENZER, Chairman of the Center for Studies and Research on Political Decision (FR)
Moderator: Viktória SERDÜLT, HVG (HU)
Closing remarks
Foresight session
EU Reforms and Improving Union’s Governability; Fundamentals: Rule of Law and Conditionality
Foresight session
Rebuilding Ukraine Together
Foresight session
Sponsors of the Enlargement: How to Ensure a Political Momentum?
Foresight session
Scenarios for EU-US Relations After 2028
Foresight session
EU Revenue streams: Funding European Defence Posture
Foresight session
Strengthening Resilience: Strategic Communication vs Disinformation – Case Study of the Lithuanian Media Support Fund
Foresight session
Ensuring Compliance: Alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy
Visegrad Insight Fellows Meeting
with H.E. Ambassador Mark Brzezinski
Foresight session
EU/NATO cooperation
Foresight session
New EU Agenda and Economic Security
Welcome coffee
Introduction
The panel should discuss the key policy debates that Poland is currently involved in within the EU, which could significantly impact the future of the EU and its enlargement. Additionally, identify policy questions that lack up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations and research. For example: To what extent are EU countries prepared to adjust the future EU budget? What national legal frameworks exist to prevent common defence funding? How can global risks in supply chains or trade wars be mitigated if global tensions escalate? What collaborative actions can EU countries take?
Małgorzata KAŁUŻYŃSKA, Director of the Economic Department of the European Union, Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (PL)
Łukasz PAWŁOWSKI, Deputy Director, Acting Director of the Department of Department of Foreign Policy Strategy of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PL), invited
Moderator: Marcin ZABOROWSKI, Senior Fellow, Visegrad Insight (PL)
Think-tanks and research consortia
Mapping and designing relevant policy research related to Enlargement ahead of Polish Presidency
Opening remarks: Anna HOFMANN, Head of Research and Scholarship, ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS (DE)
Moderator: Jan FARFAŁ, Europe Enlargement Fellow, Visegrad Insight (PL)
This event is organised in cooperation with ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS.
Rosa BALFOUR, Center Director, Carnegie Europe
Goran BULDIOSKI, Senior Fellow, Hertie School of Governance
Piotr BURAS, Director of the Warsaw Office, European Council on Foreign Relations
Adnan ĆERIMAGIĆ, Senior Analyst for the Western Balkans, European Stability Initiative
Srdjan CVIJIĆ, President, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
Ilir DEDA, Expert on Human Capital Development, Regional Cooperation Council
Nikola DIMITROV, former Minister of Foreign Affairs for North Macedonia
Ziga FAKTOR, Deputy Director & Head of Brussels office, Europeum
Jan FARFAŁ, Europe Enlargement Fellow, Visegrad Insight
Stephanie FENKART, Director of the International Institute for Peace
Magdalena GÓRA, Dean’s Representative for Research and International Cooperation, Institute for European Studies at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow
Anna HOFMANN, Head of Research and Scholarship Department, ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS
Saskia HOLLANDER, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute
Balazs JARABIK, Project Director, Dexis Consulting
Jacob KAARSBO, Senior Fellow, Think Tank EUROPA
Miriam KOSMEHL, Senior Expert Eastern Europe, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Kerry LONGHURST, Jean Monnet Professor, Collegium Civitas
Imrich MARTON, Foreign Policy Analyst, PhD Candidate, Comenius University Bratislava
Michał MATLAK, Fellow, Enlargement Hub – CEU Democracy Institute
Claudia MATTHES, Senior Lecturer & Director of International Master Programs, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Eric MAURICE, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre
Inna MELNYKOVSKA, Central European University
Justinas MICKUS, Senior Policy Analyst, Vyriausybės strateginės analizės centras (STRATA)
Thu NGUYEN, Deputy Director, Jacques Delors Centre
Kalypso NICOLAÏDIS, Chair in Global Affairs at the School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute
Łukasz PAWŁOWSKI, Acting Director, Department of Foreign Policy Strategy Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych (TBC)
Miroslava PISKLOVÁ, Research Fellow, Slovak Foreign Policy Association
Wojciech PRZYBYLSKI, Editor-in-Chief, Visegrad Insight
Jovana RADOSLAVJEVIĆ, Executive Director, New Social Initiative
Maria SIMEONOVA, Head of the Sofia Office, European Council on Foreign Relations
Tobias SPÖRI, Senior Research Fellow, dpart
Tomáš STRÁŽAY, Director, Slovak Foreign Policy Association
Strahinja SUBOTIĆ, Programme Manager and Senior Researcher, European Policy Centre
Samina SULTAN, Senior Economist, German Economic Institute
Monika SUS, Professor, Polish Academy of Sciences
Žilvinas ŠVEDKAUSKAS, PhD candidate in comparative politics, Eberhard-Karls- Universität Tübingen
Hannes SWOBODA, President, International Institute for Peace
Clotilde WARIN, Advisor on European Affairs, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France
Kataryna WOLCZUK, European Neighbourhood Policy Chair, College of Europe
Doris WYDRA, Assistant Professor and coordinator, Salzburg Centre of European Union Studies
Marcin ZABOROWSKI, Senior Fellow, Visegrad Insight
Valbona ZENELI, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council of the United States
Working lunch and networking
Departures
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The Res Publica Foundation is an impartial think tank with over three decades of experience in forward-looking research, publishing, and project management relevant to Polish and European policies, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
Established in 1987, its founding aim was to bolster cultural, research, and educational capacities, focusing on European themes and subjects.
Res Publica’s mission is to fortify democracy in Central and Eastern Europe and to establish mechanisms to prevent democratic backsliding. It enriches public discourse through Res Publica Nowa, its flagship Polish publication, and Visegrad Insight, an English-language European think tank and platform for analysis, research and debate.
Visegrad Insight is the main Central European analysis and media platform. It generates future policy directions for Europe and transatlantic partners.
Over the past years, our strategic foresight programme has gained recognition for its approach and impact on European policy and public debate.
Annually, through Visegrad Insight and Res Publica Nowa, the foundation publishes approximately 300 analytical papers, articles, and reports, collaborating with over 200 authors and experts. Its publications are either republished or produced with leading national media outlets.
