Open House Event

The Copenhagen Summit has removed the worst uncertainties about the shape, scope and timetable for the EU’s ‘big bang’ enlargement, leaving only the hurdle of ratification in all 25 countries still to be overcome. A major challenge remains, that of convincing wider civil society, in EU member states and accession countries of the opportunities enlargement will bring. The years of accession negotiations inevitably focused public attention on the problem areas of EU enlargement, but now the spotlight must be shifted to the longer-term social, economic and business opportunities that have been Europe’s goal since the fall of the Berlin wall. What are today’s economic realities in the member states-to-be, and what role can governments, business and civil society play in ensuring the first wave accession country’s transition to full EU membership?

Featuring:

Günter Verheugen, Commissioner for Enlargement, European Commission
Antony Burgmans, Chairman of Unilever and of the ERT’s Enlargement Committee
Alexander Rondos, Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greece
Marek Grela, Ambassador, Mission of Poland to the EU
Heather Grabbe, Research Director, Centre for European Reform