Europe Future Forum 2024

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The 2024 Europe Future Forum, hosted by Visegrad Insight and the Res Publica Foundation, was held in Warsaw from 16-18 September. With over 190 participants from 30 countries, the event featured impactful speaking roles and facilitated forward-looking dialogue. It served as a key platform for high-profile stakeholders to collaborate on strategic priorities for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland. The Forum also contributed to the programming of Poland’s EU Council Presidency by issuing policy briefs to inform its agenda.

The Europe Future Forum’s core programme encompassed thought-provoking Main Stage discussions, exclusive closed-door Foresight Sessions and an innovative Policy Hackathon. Additionally, it incorporated a diverse series of side events, including high-level Executive Sessions and a vibrant opening Reception, offering abundant and invaluable networking opportunities throughout the Forum.

Main Stage

The core programme of the Forum commenced with two compelling keynote speeches by Marek Prawda, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kalypso Nicolaïdis, Chair in Global Affairs at the School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute. These visionary addresses looked beyond present challenges, envisioning a Europe prepared to meet tomorrow’s challenges. 

The main stage came alive with vibrant discussions that championed dialogue and inspiration about the future of Europe. Five high-impact policy debates provided a platform for Europe’s leading policymakers, scholars and thought leaders to tackle critical issues shaping the continent’s future – from economic resilience and enlargement to the East and South and safeguarding democratic values. Participants included leaders from EU Member States, candidate countries and respected think-tanks, who exchanged insights to shape a vision for a stronger and more united Europe. 

 

2025 EU Council Presidencies. Opportunities Not To Miss

The first panel explored opportunities for the 2025 EU Council Presidencies. Eduard Hulicius, Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussed how Poland’s presidency during the first six months of 2025 could elevate EU enlargement as a central issue. Moderated by Marzenna Guz Vetter, Visegrad Insight’s Senior Fellow, the panel emphasised the strategic importance of seizing and forging momentum for enlargement.

 

How Will New Members Improve the EU: Security, Prosperity, Democracy? Make a Case for Enlargement

A distinguished panel featuring Vincent Guérend, Director for European Affairs at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Charlotte Ruhe, Managing Director for Central and South Eastern Europe at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Manuel Sarrazin, German Federal Government Special Representative for the Countries of the Western Balkans, took the stage to examine how new Member States could bolster EU security, prosperity and democracy. Moderated by Oana Popescu-Zamfir, Director of GlobalFocus Center, the discussion called for more drivers of the enlargement process than the European Commission, unclear promises and lukewarm commitments. Instead, they agreed that the EU should directly collaborate with pro-EU groups in candidate countries, bypassing governments that exploit accession as a bargaining chip.

 

Europe’s Global Role

The inspiring dialogue between Peter Grk, Secretary-General of the Bled Strategic Forum at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, and Valbona Zeneli, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States, explored Europe’s shifting political priorities. Moderated by Rosa Balfour, Director of Carnegie Europe, the session delved into possible solutions to mitigate Europe’s inward-focused policies and rightward shift, which may diminish the Union’s relevance on the global stage.

 

Business Cases for Enlargement

The economic and business implications of EU enlargement were addressed by Iain Begg, Professorial Research Fellow at the European Institute of the London School of Economics and Political Science, Kateryna Kruk, Regional Public Policy Lead Central and Eastern Europe at Meta and Ignacy Niemczycki, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology. Moderated by journalist Martin Ehl (Hospodářské noviny), the panelists discussed strategies for strengthening the EU’s economic security in a volatile international environment, with enlargement positioned as a tool for achieving stability.

 

Friends of Enlargement Needed Now

The main programme of the Forum concluded with a panel that brought together Nikola Dimitrov, former Minister of Foreign Affairs for North Macedonia, Miriam Kosmehl, Senior Expert Eastern Europe and EU Neighbourhood at Bertelsmann Stiftung and Nicolas Tenzer, Chairman of the Center for Studies and Research on Political Decision. Moderated by journalist Viktória Serdült (HVG), the discussion underscored the urgent need for advocates to push the enlargement agenda forward.

These discussions underscored the urgent need to recalibrate strategies for EU enlargement and regional cohesion. The plenary sessions became a crucible for bold ideas, uniting government officials, media experts, business leaders and think-tank luminaries to forge a shared vision for Europe’s future. 

Foresight Sessions

Behind closed doors, eight exclusive discussions brought together a select group of distinguished policymakers, politicians, experts and academics from across Europe. Limited to a dozen participants each, these sessions were crafted to foster focused dialogue and drive meaningful policy change. Designed in consultation with the Polish government, they provided a rare platform for aligning strategic priorities between key ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology as well as the Ministry of Finance, and assembled a distinguished group of representatives of foreign governments and EU institutions by inviting a number of directors and counsellors from relevant departments, including Policy Planning, Strategic, European Affairs and Economic divisions, to join the discussions.

Using an innovative meeting format, participants engaged in focused exchanges on strategic decisions shaping the future of European countries. The meetings functioned as a vital consultation platform for Poland’s forthcoming EU Council Presidency, fostering a cohesive vision to address Europe’s challenges and seize emerging opportunities.

These sessions included:

  • Sponsors of the Enlargement: How to Ensure a Political Momentum?, led by Director Agnieszka Kowalska (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
  • EU Revenue streams: Funding European Defence Posture, led by Minister Paweł Karbownik (Ministry of Finance)
  • Rebuilding Ukraine Together, led by Minister Ignacy Niemczycki (Ministry of Economic Development and Technology)
  • EU Reforms and Improving Union’s Governability. Fundamentals: Rule of Law and Conditionality, led by Director Karolina Ostrzyniewska (Chancellery of the Prime Minister)
  • New EU Agenda and Economic Security, led by Director Beata Jaczewska (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
  • Scenarios for EU-US Relations After 2028, led by Director Łukasz Pawłowski (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
  • Future of EU-NATO Cooperation, led by Director Marek Kręt (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
  • Ensuring Compliance: Alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy, led by Director Piotr Kobza (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
  • Strengthening Resilience: Strategic Communication vs Disinformation, led by Director Ruslanas Iržikevičius (Medijų rėmimo fondas)

Policy Hackathon with Policymakers, Think-Tanks and Research Consortia

On the third day of the Forum, Visegrad Insight hosted an innovative policy workshop on EU enlargement and Poland’s 2025 EU Council Presidency. Co-designed with ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS, the workshop gathered 40 leading think tank experts and academics from across the EU. 

Discussions centered on financing enlargement, implementing EU reforms ahead of enlargement and restructuring the budget to accommodate new member states. Prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Europe, Clingendael, European Policy Centre, and Centre for European Policy Studies contributed to a robust exchange of ideas. 

The workshop was a programme highlight, offering a forward-thinking dialogue on critical EU challenges. Its deliberations will inform Visegrad Insight’s second volume of the 2024 report on “Costs of Non-Enlargement“ ensuring the conversation continues with actionable insights.

Executive Sessions

Preceding the main programme of the Forum, Visegrad Insight facilitated three insider-exclusive gatherings, offering participants a unique opportunity to engage with visionary leaders on critical topics shaping Europe’s future.

The morning assembly featured a breakfast and conversation with Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration at the Government of the Republic of Moldova, on the country’s path towards EU membership. This meeting brought together a select group of 20 representatives from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Technology and Economic Development, officials from Moldovan and Romanian Embassies, and partner organisations.

During lunch, a private, off-the-record conversation on EU enlargement was hosted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs premises. Jakub Wiśniewski, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, organised and hosted the 12 participants, including representatives from EU candidate countries, creating a candid space for exchanging views on the enlargement process.

In the afternoon, Andreas Stadler, Austrian Ambassador to Poland, hosted a coffee reception focused on EU enlargement to the South and East. This gathering welcomed top diplomats from the EU and candidate countries, alongside prominent thinkers, to explore strategies for advancing the enlargement agenda in a collaborative dialogue.

Reception

The evening reception of the Europe Future Forum brought together leaders and innovators for an engaging exchange of ideas. Held at the Muzealna Restaurant in the heart of Warsaw, the event featured an inspiring conversation between Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, and Jakub Turowski, Public Policy Director for Central and Eastern Europe at Meta. Moderated by Magda Jakubowska, Vice President of the Res Publica Foundation, the discussion offered fresh insights into Europe’s future through the lenses of leadership and innovation. This elegant gathering set the stage for the Forum’s main discussions, fostering a spirit of collaboration and forward-thinking.

Networking

The Forum provided a dynamic platform for both formal and informal networking, fostering meaningful connections among attendees. By blending professional depth with casual, approachable settings, the Forum ensured that every interaction had the potential to spark lasting connections and valuable partnerships.

Photographer: Magda Pawluczuk

Partners of the Europe Future Forum 2024

Strategic Partners

Platinum Partner

Silver Partners

Agenda

 

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