Civil society can contribute well to and must be included in the negotiations on the enlargement of the European Union.
This is the main message of a round table, organised by the European Movement as part of the conference New Impulses for EU Enlargement: Benefits for Citizens and Companies, which took place on Monday, 28 April 2025 at the Liechtenstein Palace in Prague.
The European Movement in the Czech Republic was a co-organiser of this conference. Together with the Office of the Government, specifically the cabinet of Minister for EU Martin Dvořák, and the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM, we wanted to contribute to the debate on the future enlargement of today’s candidate countries. The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Ms Marta Kos, visited the conference.
The President of the European Movement in the Czech Republic, Mr. Vladimír Špidla, together with the Government Commissioner for the Balkans, Ms Edita Hrdá, Mr. Petr Jonák from the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic and the Vice-Rector of the Charles University, Ms Věra Jourová, spoke in an introductory discussion panel. He stressed the geopolitical aspects as well as the need to reform the functioning of the European institutions: „The enlargement of the European Union to include Ukraine is not comparable to previous enlargements, which took place in a different global context and in no way carried such important geopolitical aspects. It is not just a normal enlargement exercise. Ukraine, due to its historical destiny and its strength, will be a challenge for the European institutions and I am sure that it is not possible to integrate Ukraine without significant changes in the institutional set-up of the European Union.“
The second discussion panel was devoted to the topic of business opportunities with a focus on Ukraine. The invitation was accepted by the Director of the Investment Attraction Department of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Ms Maryna Chlystun, who then led a workshop dedicated to investment opportunities in Ukraine
Subsequently, the European Movement in the Czech Republic held a round table as part of the conference mainly as a contribution of civil society to enlargement, moderated by its Vice-President Mr. Pavel Trantina. It was attended by Commissioner Kos, representative of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU and representatives of civil society from the candidate countries, present online:
- Ms Dragana Durica – European Movement Serbia,
- Mr. Gledis Gjipali – European Movement Albania,
- Mr. Andrei Lepavcov – European Movement North Macedonia
- Ms Aida Daguda – Centar za promociju civilnog društva, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
- Ms Daliborka Uljarevic – Center for Civic Education, Montenegro,
- Mr. Andrei Curararu, WatchDog.MD Community, Moldova and
- Ms Daria Burii – National Youth Council of Ukraine
Comments were made, among others, on the transparency of negotiations on enlargement, the rule of law, problems with the implementation of laws, transformation processes, the level of disinformation and the fight against them, but also on the contribution of young people to changes in society and the hopes placed in them.
Representatives of People in Need and Caritas of the Czech Republic, i.e. organizations that have a number of projects in the candidate countries and know the situation so well, also responded to the on-line contributions.
The round table showed how important it is to ensure the involvement of civil society already in accession talks, as it is a good guardian of processes and principles. It is also the glue that keeps the state and its citizens together. Or, as Václav Havel said, „it acts as a real guarantee of political stability. The more developed all the organisms, institutions and instruments of civil society, the more resistant this society is to all kinds of political winds or reversals.„
It is civil society organizations that take care to defend the rule of law and European values – i.e. respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. To be able to do this, civil society organizations must have the appropriate conditions – especially legal, material and financial ones. And they must be treated as real partners already at the time of the negotiations on the country’s accession to the EU.
Commissioner Marta Kos has shown great understanding of the challenges presented by civil sector representatives and has specifically responded to many of them. At the same time, she has called on non-profit organisations in existing member countries to try to counter disinformation about accession countries. This will also be helped by better links or direct partnerships between the civil sector in the Czech Republic and the Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine, cemented at this conference.
The round table was co-funded by EU funds thanks to a grant from the European Movement International.
