How can EU enlargement earn young people’s trust? Join the discussion on 12 November
What makes communication about EU enlargement credible to young people and how can their voices help shape its future? Join us online on 12 November 2026 at 11:00 Brussels time to share your perspectives and contribute to practical recommendations.
The European Centre of Excellence (ECE Brussels), in cooperation with the European Policy Institute (EPI North Macedonia), and the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE Moldova), are organising “Communicating EU Enlargement: Building Trust and Engagement with the Next Generation”.
Held as a satellite event ahead of the EU Enlargement Forum 2026, this online dialogue will connect perspectives from the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and EU Member States. It will bring young people’s experiences, questions and proposals into a discussion about trust, reform and meaningful participation.
Connecting EU enlargement with young people’s lives
For young people, discussions about EU enlargement raise practical questions about their future, rights and opportunities. How can institutions explain accession reforms in ways that connect with these concerns? What builds confidence in the information young people receive? And how can communication create space for participation and influence?
The event will explore these questions through an exchange between young people, youth organisations and networks, civil society and institutional representatives.
The programme will include welcome remarks from the organisers, institutional perspectives, brief introductory contributions from youth representatives, and an open moderated discussion. The list of speakers include representatives of the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the governments of Montenegro and Moldova, the organising think tanks, as well as youth networks and organisations from the EU and EU candidate countries.
The detailed programme and confirmed speakers will be announced ahead of the event.
ECE Brussels will be represented by Dr Aleksandar Ivanovski, President of the Executive Board, who will open the event with welcoming remarks, and Bojan Kordalov, Director of Policy and Communications, who will deliver introductory remarks drawing on more than 25 years of experience in strategic communication, EU visibility and work with youth organisations. His contribution will explore how communication can connect EU enlargement with young people’s questions, expectations and opportunities to participate.
Bring your questions and help shape the recommendations
Participants are warmly encouraged to contribute their experiences and proposals. The discussion will consider:
What makes communication about EU enlargement relevant, accessible and credible to young people?
How can institutions and civil society respond more effectively to young people’s questions and expectations?
What opportunities would enable young people to contribute meaningfully to reforms and the European integration process?
What practical steps could strengthen trust and engagement across the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership?
Other topics you consider relevant.
The exchange will inform practical recommendations reflecting young people’s perspectives, particularly those from Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership candidate countries. These recommendations will be shared with the European Commission, including the Cabinet of Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and DG ENEST.
Who should join?
We welcome young people, youth organisations and networks, Young European Ambassadors from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership, representatives of EU institutions, national governments and public authorities, civil society organisations, academia, think tanks and the media, as well as anyone interested in EU enlargement and youth participation.
Organisations are encouraged to share the invitation with their members and networks so that a wide range of experiences can contribute to the discussion.
Date: 12 November 2026
Time: 11:00 Brussels time
Format: Online via Zoom
Participation: Open, with prior registration
Please register individually to receive your Zoom joining link by email.
