Dall’allargamento del 2004 alle sfide future dell’UE

In 2004, eight former socialist countries from Central and Eastern Europe, along with two Mediterranean countries, joined the European Union. This enlargement was hailed as a decisive step in reuniting Europe after the end of the Cold War and remains a historic milestone that has shaped the EU as we know it today. It was celebrated for supporting political and economic transitions in Central and Eastern Europe and for contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity across the continent. At the same time, the 2004 enlargement is also seen as a source of some of the challenges the EU has faced over the past twenty years, including democratic backsliding in certain member states and institutional and decision-making complications stemming from the increased number and diversity of its members.

As part of reflections marking the 20th anniversary of that “big bang enlargement,” it is timely to reflect on the different perceptions and assessments in Italy and across Europe, and to discuss the challenges posed by future accessions. The conference is organized by the Istituto Affari Internazionali and the Dipartimento Culture, Politica e Società (CPS) of the Università di Torino, as part of the project “(Re)uniting the East and West: Reflections on the 2004 EU Enlargement (REWEU),” with the support of the European Commission, the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, and the Fondazione CSF.

Participation is free. There is no streaming.