This online public forum is co-organised with the Think for Europe Network (TEN).

The EU seeks to foster democratisation through its enlargement policy, in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, also known as the Western Balkans Six. 

Despite years of efforts, the EU’s policies have not brought about the expected change. Instead of experiencing decisive democratic reform, the WB6 show signs – to different degrees – of ‘stabilitocracies’: countries with obvious democratic shortcomings that at the same time claim to work towards democratic reform and to offer stability. 

Join our online forum with law makers, policy makers and researchers from both the EU and the Western Balkans. The topics at stake include how the EU is unintentionally contributing to the formation of ‘stabilitocracies’ and what can be done to avoid it.

We will pose several thesis statements to the speakers. The speakers will debate a thesis during a limited amount of time. You can participate through the poll and by asking your question through the online Q&A.

Programme

Welcome & introduction of the report The EU as a promoter of democracy or ‘stabilitocracy’ in the Western Balkans?

• Giulia Cretti, Junior Researcher, the Clingendael Institute

Debate & poll questions

• Alessandra Viezzer, Deputy head of Unit, Western Balkans Policy & Regional Strategy, DG Near, European Commission
• Milena Lazarević, Programme Director, European Policy Centre Belgrade
• Nikola Dimitrov, Former Foreign and Deputy Prime Minister for European Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, ECFR and BIEPAG member
• Roelien Kamminga, Member of Parliament VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy), The Netherlands
• Geert Luteijn, Lecturer Political Science, University of Amsterdam
• Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, Member of European Parliament (The Greens/European Free Alliance - EFA)
• Wouter Zweers, (moderator) Research Fellow, the Clingendael Institute

Q&A session

Register

Please register here to participate via Zoom. After registering you will receive an email with a personal link to the webinar room. It will also be streamed live via YouTube (without the opportunity to participate in the poll and Q&A)