Ireland’s EU Presidency and the Future of Enlargement

As Ireland prepares to take on its EU Presidency, beginning in July 2026, this panel will discuss the evolving agenda on EU enlargement. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and a renewed accession momentum, this discussion, which brings together perspectives from Dublin and Brussels, will assess the strategic, institutional, and political challenges facing the Union and enlargement. Panellists will consider the nature of enlargement as a strategic priority for the Union, and the delicate balance between deepening and widening the EU. This event has been organised in conjunction with the European Policy Centre Speakers include: Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive of the European Policy Centre; Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute; Barry Colfer, Director of Research at the IIEA