{"id":52858,"date":"2025-10-15T16:28:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eliamep.gr\/?post_type=activity&p=52858"},"modified":"2025-10-15T16:28:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:28:27","slug":"ignita-forum-2025-on-the-edge","status":"publish","type":"activity","link":"https:\/\/www.eliamep.gr\/en\/activity\/ignita-forum-2025-on-the-edge\/","title":{"rendered":"IGNITA Forum 2025: \u201cOn the Edge\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ioannis Alexandris<\/b>\u00a0(Research Fellow, South-East Europe Programme \u2013 ELIAMEP; Research Associate, think nea \u2013 New Narratives of EU Integration<\/i>) participated in\u00a0the IGNITA Forum 2025: \u201cOn the Edge\u201d<\/i><\/b>, organised by the\u00a0Open Society Foundations \u2013 Western Balkans<\/b>\u00a0and held in Prizren, Kosovo from 8-10 October. The Forum brought together researchers, policymakers, and civil society representatives from the Western Balkans and across Europe to discuss the region\u2019s role in shaping Europe\u2019s future. ELIAMEP is a member of the\u00a0IGNITA<\/a><\/u><\/b>\u00a0network which is led by led by OSF-WB.<\/div>\n
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Over the three days, participants addressed themes such as EU enlargement and convergence, the politics of gradual integration, youth engagement and Gen-Z viewpoints, the challenges and the regions potential in green and digital transitions. The Forum also hosted high-level interventions from Prime Minister Albin Kurti, senior EU officials such as the Deputy Head of the EU in Kosovo, Eva Palatova, Montenegro\u2019s chief negotiator with the EU, Predrag Zenovic, as well as leading policy experts from organisations including CEPS, Carnegie Europe, OECD, and the European University Institute.<\/div>\n
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In his opening remarks,\u00a0Andi Dobrushi<\/b>,\u00a0Director of OSF\u2013WB<\/i>, stated that \u201cIgnita was built precisely for this moment, a place where civil society can transform waiting into action, fatigue into foresight and fragmentation into convergence<\/i>\u201d.<\/div>\n
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Albin Kurti<\/b>,\u00a0Prime Minister of Kosovo<\/i>, mentioned that \u201cEveryone uses the EU as a tool, but having the European Union as a value has been left to the left. Social democrats of our continent should rise to their historical task and embrace this opportunity, in spite of all the risks and dangers that surround us<\/i>\u201d.<\/div>\n
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In a video address,\u00a0Marie Bjerre<\/b>,\u00a0Denmark\u2019s Minister for European Affairs<\/i>, underscored that the fundamental principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights are non-negotiable: \u201cEU membership is not an easy path. Entering the European Union is a long and demanding process. But if we succeed, we will see a much stronger EU in the future, too big an opportunity to miss. And when we do realize a bigger and stronger Union, we might just ask ourselves why it didn\u2019t happen even sooner<\/i>.\u201d<\/div>\n
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In his discussions and exchange of views with other participants from leading think tanks and institutions across the region and beyond, including the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), the Italian Institute for International Affairs (IAI) Carnegie Europe, but also several organisations from Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, Ioannis shared insights on ELIAMEP\u2019s recent and upcoming work under the\u00a0think nea \u2013 New Narratives of EU Integration<\/a><\/u>\u00a0initiative which is supported by OSF-WB. He drew attention to ELIAMEP\u2019s recent reports on\u00a0radical right parties and fiscal narratives<\/a><\/u>\u00a0and the Western Balkans\u2019 potential to contribute to\u00a0EU defence readiness<\/a><\/u>, as well as the forthcoming research study on critical raw materials, which have already attracted interest among EU stakeholders and will be presented in upcoming high-level discussions in Brussels and key EU capitals.<\/div>\n
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During the closing session,\u00a0Lura Limani<\/b>,\u00a0Team Lead at OSF\u2013WB<\/i>, explicitly acknowledged ELIAMEP\u2019s role as a key partner, highlighting its recent contribution and the relevance of its research to current EU policy debates, an endorsement that reflects the growing visibility of ELIAMEP and think nea\u2019s work in regional and European discussions.<\/div>\n
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