At a moment when the EU’s current and forthcoming Enlargement Package and neighbourhood policy debates are being shaped, this webinar is designed as a policy-relevant briefing bringing together comparative, evidence-based insights from multiple Horizon Europe SSH research projects.
The webinar is organised on 26 February 2026 and structured around two geographically focused sessions:
Session 1 (09:30–11:00)
Geo-scope: Western Balkans
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia
Session 2 (11:00–12:30)
Geo-scope: Eastern Partnership countries and Türkiye
Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Türkiye
Each session will feature short presentations by Horizon Europe project representatives, followed by moderated discussion and audience Q&A.
Rather than project overviews, the focus is on synthesised findings and policy-relevant interpretations addressing core democracy-related challenges, including:
– Rule of law and the judiciary
– Corruption and organised crime
– Media freedom, pluralism, and freedom of expression
– Disinformation and foreign interference
– Human rights, non-discrimination, and minority rights
The webinar offers direct access to Horizon Europe consortia, enabling dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and civil society actors on how empirical research can inform EU policy design, implementation, and evaluation in the context of enlargement and neighbourhood relations.
The event is co-organised with the European Commission (DG RTD) and moderated by Commission officials.
