09/06/2026
📅 From 1–3 June 2026, the Institute of European Studies hosted the conference entitled "The Legacy of the Big Bang EU Enlargement: Lessons Learned and Future Perspectives." This was the first conference organized within the framework of the ENLARGE project, coordinated by the University of Bologna, with the Institute of European Studies (IES) serving as one of the project partners.
🎤 The conference opened with a panel discussion on the 2004 EU enlargement, reflecting on its legacy from the perspective of the past 25 years. During the discussion, academics and experts examined perceptions of the EU’s eastern enlargement from both scholarly and personal perspectives.
💬 Over the course of the three-day event, six thematic panels were organized, addressing EU enlargement from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Participants discussed political and economic dimensions, as well as challenges and contestation surrounding enlargement policy. On the final day, a workshop for early-career researchers was held, providing an opportunity for participants to present and discuss their research ideas with experts from the ENLARGE consortium’s partner universities.
👥 In total, the conference welcomed approximately 60 participants. The event was coordinated at the Institute of European Studies by Dr. Natasza Styczyńska, with support from the academic and administrative team consisting of Prof. Magdalena Góra, Dr. Marcin Zubek, Dr. Joanna Orzechowska-Wacławska, Dr. Elodie Thevenin, Volodymyr Posviatenko, MA, Monika Nowak, MA, Monika Simpson, MA, Scott Simpson, MA, and Izabela Fulanty, MA.
🚀 The Jean Monnet ENLARGE project is now entering its second phase of implementation, with summer schools and additional conferences planned in the coming months.
📸 Photos: Monika Simpson, Svetlana Baranova
