Dubrovnik Dialogue: Integration in a Europe under Reform

In 2018, the European Union has been making efforts to reiterate its promise that all countries of the region have the prospect of becoming members of the EU. However, much energy and attention inside the EU has been directed towards problems within the union. As a consequence, the EU has lost attraction in the aspirant countries. Meanwhile other actors have entered the scene.

The conference was opened by the former President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, who shared his reading of the current strategic situation. Mr Swoboda's keynote adress was followed by a discussion with Josip Juratović, Member of the German Bundestag, and Tonino Picula, Member of the European Parliament and the former Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia.

The Conference subsequently aimed at pursuing the different dynamics of European Integration in three panels dedicated to the political, economic and civil society aspects of the topic. Firstly, the focus was on analysing the complementarity of the enlargement policy and the accession process of Southeastern European countries, with the Reform Agenda being proposed currently, as well as with the Future of Europe scenarios. Secondly, the conference addressed the impact of deeper and improved economic cooperation between the countries of the region, and its influence on their integration process. And finally, the discussion dealt with the role of civil society and the necessary prerequisite of reconciliation, trying to answer if this is the catalyst for a faster process of European integration for Southeastern Europe.

For further information, please refer to this video and a more detailed conference report available here.