Policy Brief 1/2024: The EU’s participatory enlargement

The prospect of enlargement has provided a push for new ideas and has invigorated debate
on EU institutional reform. Besides internal institutional transformation, enlargement opens
a window for another crucial step: the EU must transition from being a Union of citizens in
name only to a Union that practices what it preaches. European citizens need to be involved
in European politics differently, far earlier and more effectively. The enlargement process
offers a chance to use participatory tools and formats in an innovative way.