European Futures: What Next Two Decades after the Eastern Enlargement?
About the event
On the 27th and 28th of June 2024, our network of postgraduate and early-career researchers in contemporary European Studies gathered in Amsterdam at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for the UACES Graduate Forum Research Conference 2024.
This year our postgraduate and early-career researchers critically examined European futures in the context of the European Union's (EU) landmark 2004 enlargement. This conference provided a platform for researchers to present work on European studies and enjoy insightful discussions on the dynamics, challenges, and far-reaching implications of the EU's decision to expand its membership then and now, during a period of significant geopolitical shifts.
The year 2004 marked a significant juncture in the European Union’s (EU) history, with the largest-ever enlargement to include post-communist countries from Central and Southern Europe. It not only highlighted the EU's stated commitment to promoting regional stability and integration but also raised questions about its broader implications for many applicant countries, the EU itself, and countries wishing to join the EU. The 2004 enlargement was a turning point that shaped the EU's borders, complex nature, future, and role on the global stage. Twenty years on, what do European futures look like?
Contributions
Thank you to our network of postgraduate and early-career researchers who have given us permission to publish their papers, blog posts, and videos or podcasts for the benefit of a wider audience of European Studies scholars. We invite you to explore their work by clicking on the links below.
Alexander Malyarenko - paper here
Alina Nychyk - blog post here
Benedetta Morari - blog post here
Blanca Marabini San Martín - blog post here
Carolina Pérez Salamanca - blog post here
Giovanni D'Agostino - podcast here
Jaseff Raziel Yauri-Miranda - paper here
Kevin Le Merle - blog post here
Laura Montecchio - blog post here
Lien Jansen - blog post here
Marta Marafona - blog post here
Michael Higham - paper here
Nicholas Scott - blog post here
Niek Kelders - podcast here
Radostina Schivatcheva - blog post here
Sara Canali - blog post here
Sydney Holt - paper here
Valeria Fappani - blog post here
Yuetong Guo - blog post here
