Centre Grande Europe

The war in Ukraine has brought the issue of enlargement back to the forefront of the European agenda. Within the Jacques Delors Institute, the Centre Grande Europe is dedicated to analysing this process, with particular attention to the countries of the Western Balkans.

Launched in November 2022 with the support of the Open Society Foundation, the Centre pursues several objectives. It provides expertise on the EU accession process and on the situations of the various candidate States, while also examining the relations between the rest of the European continent and the European Union, notably with the United Kingdom, as well as the development of the European Political Community.

The Centre also contributes to the debate on enlargement in France by engaging a range of audiences and by fostering greater interest in the Balkans, notably through the Cercle Balkans initiative. In addition, it seeks to strengthen cooperation with major European think tanks working on these issues, particularly through the Balkan Hub, and to develop closer links with candidate States, notably through the implementation of joint projects and by hosting visiting fellows.

Convinced that enlargement is intrinsic to the project of a united Europe and responds to a clear geopolitical imperative, the Centre advocates a model of gradual accession to the European Union and supports a process that involves all stakeholders from an early stage.

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