Details

This study examines the influence of China’s presence and activities on the European Union (EU) integration process of the Western Balkans. Since the Thessaloniki Summit of 2003, only Croatia managed to join the EU, while the other countries in the region remain candidates for membership, with little prospects to join by 2030. The research investigates how China’s approach impacts specific outcomes, both supporting and undermining the EU accession process, chapter by chapter. It also explores the reasons behind these outcomes, including China’s approach, domestic agency, and geopolitical factors. The goal is to provide a comprehensive and cross-country analysis of China’s impact in the region and identify areas where the Western Balkan countries can eliminate or minimise negative consequences, or leverage potential synergies, ultimately aiming to understand the interplay between China’s involvement and the EU integration process in the Western Balkans.

The presentation of the research findings will be implemented in the frame of a panel discussion which will take place on the 18th of October in Skopje, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Skoje starting at 11.00 a.m.

The event will start with the welcoming remarks of Daniel Braun, Official representative of Konrad Adenauer Foundation Office in Skopje and Katerina Jakimovska from the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies from Brussels.

The State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Filip Tosevski will address the audience and give introduction to the topic.
The panel discussion will be attended by the following speakers:
Ana Krstinovska, ESTIMA - Association for strategy development, research, education and promotion of international values;

Bledar Feta (online address), Research Fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy ELIAMEP, Greece;

Aleksandra Stankovic (online address), Deputy Director of the Institute for European Affairs, Serbia

David Merkle (online address), Department of European and International Cooperation; Asia and the Pacific.

The discussion will be moderated by Aleksandra Davitkovska-Spasovska from ESTIMA.

Working language of the event will be English.

For any further information please check the programme of the event.