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- PAST EVENTHybrid
- Hybrid
08 Sep 2026
10:00 am
11:00 am
About
As the European Union (EU) prepares its next long-term budget, enlargement has returned to the centre of the European agenda. With several candidate countries progressing on their path towards EU membership and Ukraine’s accession process underway, the Union faces important questions about how to support enlargement while responding to growing demands on its budget.
This online discussion will explore how the EU finances the enlargement process, why investment in candidate countries matters, and how these decisions shape the Union’s future. Participants will gain insights into the role of the EU budget in supporting reforms, strengthening institutions, and preparing countries for membership, while also discussing the opportunities and challenges that enlargement presents for both current Member States and candidate countries.
The discussion will address questions such as:
- How does the EU support candidate countries on their path to membership?
- Why is investment in enlargement important for the EU’s future?
- What are the opportunities and challenges of financing an enlarged European Union?
Bringing together representatives from the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions, the workshop will offer participants a comprehensive overview of one of the most significant policies and budgetary debates shaping the future of Europe.
Agenda
10:00 - 10:05
Welcome and opening remarks
10:05 - 10:45
Panel discussion
Moderated by Marija Mihailovic, Project and Partnerships Officer, European Movement International
Speakers:
- Mathieu Bousquet – Director for Enlargement Coordination, Strategy and Investments, DG ENEST, European Commission
- Vladimir Prebilič – Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens
- Joško Klisović – Member of the Zagreb City Assembly and CoR Rapporteur on Global Europe Instrument
10:45 - 11:00
Q&A session
11:00 - 11:05
Closing remarks
SPEAKERS
Mathieu Bousquet
Director for Enlargement Coordination, Strategy and Investments, DG ENEST, European Commission
Mathieu Bousquet is the Director for Enlargement Coordination, Strategy and Investments at the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) of the European Commission. His Directorate coordinates the accession process as well as the overall policy coherence of DG ENEST’s political mandate, drives the DG’s engagement with the private sector and International Financial Institutions, and supports the programming of EU financial assistance in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood.
Vladimir Prebilič
Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens
Mr. Prebilič is a member of several important committees and delegations . These include the Committee on Regional Development (REGI), where he is also the coordinator of the Green Group, the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON). He also participates in delegations to the EU – Serbia/Montenegro Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee, as well as the Delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Joško Klisović
Member of the Zagreb City Assembly and CoR Rapporteur on Global Europe Instrument
Joško Klisović is currently the President of the City Assembly of Zagreb and the member of European Committee of the Regions, which appointed him as its Rapporteur on the Global Europe Instrument. He has an extensive career both in public and private sector, having worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in private business as the Secretary General of Atlantic Group. He was in charge of organizing and conducting the referendum on Croatia’s accession to the EU, as well as the Government public campaign that preceded the referendum. He continued his career in NewYork and Bruxelles where he held the positions of political councilor to the Croatian Mission to UN and Deputy head of Mission to NATO.
Marija Mihailovic
Project and Partnerships Officer, European Movement International
Marija Mihailović is a Project & Partnerships Officer at EMI, where she works on EU-funded projects focused on citizen engagement, democracy, and public participation. Her work includes stakeholder engagement, policy analysis and research, the organisation of international events and workshops. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science, with a specialisation in EU and NATO cybersecurity policies. Originally from Serbia, she has a strong interest in EU enlargement and the Western Balkans, which informs her perspective on European integration and democratic resilience.
Location
- Online
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