This is a parliamentary event co-hosted by the Aston Centre for Europe and the Foreign Policy Centre. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to events@fpc.org.uk, including your full name, job title, and organisation. Please specify that you are registering for the Western Balkans event on 17 November.

The Western Balkans are entering a particularly consequential period. Russia’s war against Ukraine and renewed momentum around European Union (EU) enlargement, as well as growing concerns about foreign interference, democratic backsliding and regional security, have placed the region firmly back on the European policy agenda. At the same time, questions remain about the credibility and pace of the accession process, the political appetite for enlargement within EU Member States, and the role that external partners, including the United Kingdom, should play.

This parliamentary discussion will consider how the UK and European countries can support a more secure, democratic and integrated Western Balkans. It will explore the future of EU enlargement, including how geopolitical urgency can be balanced with continued expectations around democratic reform, the rule of law and institutional resilience; how different EU Member States are approaching further enlargement; and what role the UK should play in supporting regional security, democratic governance and European integration.

Please note that space is limited and registration is required to attend. If you are interested in joining the session, please send an email to events@fpc.org.uk including your full name, job title, and organisation. We will register your interest and follow up to confirm your place and provide further details.

This event will be chaired by The Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP

Speakers

– Vladimír Bilčík, Senior Fellow, GLOBSEC

– Professor Denisa Kostovicova, Professor of Global Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science

– Dr Andi Hoxhaj OBE, Lecturer in Law and Director of the EU Law LLM pathway programme at King’s College London

– Ivana Miloradovic, London-based British-Serbian broadcaster, documentarian, and geopolitical analyst