News Archive

MAXCAP partner Adam Fagan contributes to House of Lords report on EU foreign and security strategy

As part of the UK House of Lords EU External Affairs Sub-Committee's strategic review of EU policy, Adam Fagan, Professor at Queen Mary University of London, had been invited to provide evidence on EU policy in the Western Balkans. The evidence which he gave on 5 November 2015 has now been included in the House of Lords European Union Committee's report "Europe in the world: Towards a more effective EU foreign and security strategy", which was published yesterday, on 16 February.

MAXCAP partner Frank Schimmelfennig on the risks of proclaiming a standstill to the EU's expansion in the near future

In the recent issue of Europe's World, MAXCAP partner Frank Schimmelfennig discusses the dangers of calling a halt to the EU's expansion in the near future. While emphasizing that the biggest effort of all still has to come from a candidate country itself, Schimmelfennig calls for the EU to regain its consistency in the ways it encourages the candidates' progress.

Out now: MAXCAP Policy Brief No. 2

The MAXCAP Policy Brief No. 2 “Reinvigorating the Enlargement Process and Strengthening the EU’s Integration Capacity: Insights from MAXCAP” has been published. It puts emphasis on the policy implications of our interim research findings for the EU’s approach to support political and economic change in current and potential candidate countries so as to avoid disintegrative tendencies in the post-accession period. You can download the Policy Brief here.

MAXCAP partner Dimiter Toshkov discussed the state of democracy in East Central Europe before and after EU Integration at the Central European University in Budapest

On 6 October 2015, Dimiter Toshkov took part in a roundtable discussion on "Democracy in East Central Europe before and after EU Integration. A debate about pre- and post-accession conditionality". The debate was held at Central European University in Budapest and was hosted by the Center for EU Enlargement Studies and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Budapest.

MAXCAP Partner Adam Fagan to hold lecture on “The future of EU integration and enlargement” on 7th October, 2015 at O.P. Jindal Global University

On 7th October, 2015 MAXCAP Partner Adam Fagan speaks on “The future of EU integration and enlargement” at the Centre for European Studies, O.P. Jindal Global University, and sheds light on the question “Has Brussels lost its power to transform post-authoritarian transitional states at its borders?”

Tanja A. Börzel on “Building Member States: How the EU Promotes Political Change in its New Members, Accession Candidates, and Eastern Neighbors”

In her newly published article MAXCAP Project Coordinator Tanja A. Börzel reviews the literature regarding the modes of political integration the EU has developed and applied to shape state-building, democracy and rule of law in the new member states, in the current and potential candidates of the Western Balkans, and in the Eastern European Neighborhood Countries.

New Book: “Europeanization of the Western Balkans. Environmental Governance in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia” by Adam Fagan and Indraneel Sircar

Adam Fagan, MAXCAP Partner and Professor at Queen Mary University of London, and Indraneel Sircar, Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London, examine in their recent book how new institutions are created in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia following the conflicts in the 1990s and how these new institutions develop alongside existing structures on a national and EU level.

Out now: MAXCAP Policy Brief No. 1

The MAXCAP Policy Brief No. 1 “10 Years of the ENP – The Way Forward with the EaP” has been published. The policy brief is MAXCAP’s contribution to the public consultation process initiated by the European Commission regarding the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy. It formulates specific policy recommendations for a refined approach towards the Eastern Partnership. You can download the Policy Brief here.

MAXCAP organizes debate on Ukraine at Freie Universität Berlin

The crisis in Ukraine has been on the pages of newspapers and on the agenda of world leaders for more than a year. Yet, a solution is no way near despite several high level meetings and roadmaps developed during negotiations in Minsk. To provide a fresh viewpoint on the crisis and its possible solutions, Dr. Nelli Babayan and Dr. Julia Langbein organized a student debate on the topic as part of Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften on 13 June 2015 at Freie Universität Berlin.

MAXCAP Newsletter Issue 05/2015

Just before the summer break we are happy to present the fifth edition of our MAXCAP Newsletter! It will inform you about two MAXCAP milestones: the Midterm Conference and the Young Researchers Workshop. In addition, we provide an overview of MAXCAP's interim research results as well as of recent workshops, training sessions and panel discussions by MAXCAP scholars. The MAXCAP Newsletter Issue 05/2015 can be found here.
 

Panel discussion: "Fighting corruption in the Western Balkans: The role of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA)"

The School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) are co-hosting a lunchtime session on ‘Fighting corruption in the Western Balkans: The role of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA)’. The event will be held on 5 June 2015 at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London.

MAXCAP partners discussed their interim research results at Midterm Conference in Istanbul

On 22-23 April 2015, the MAXCAP FP7 project held its Midterm Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. The Conference presented the current state of achievements of the MAXCAP project with important lessons for European Enlargement and the European Neighbourhood Policy. The conference was attended by more than fifty participants from project partner institutions and its advisory board and from various other institutions, authorities, the European Commission and civil society.

Sabanci University held its Young Researchers Workshop on EU-related issues

On 20-21 April 2015, MAXCAP Partner Institution Sabanci University held its Young Researchers Workshop in Istanbul. The workshop focused on EU-related issues such as formation of public opinion and discourses in the EU, EU enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy as well as Europeanization tools and the convergence across various policy areas.

Debating Ukraine - MAXCAP organizes public debate on Ukraine crisis

The crisis in Ukraine has been under the international spotlight for more than a year. Yet, world leaders still cannot find a viable solution despite continuous negotiations. It is thus high time to gather fresh perspectives on the resolution of this crisis. This sets the stage for the event "Ukraine - Debating for Peace" which will take place on 13 June 2015 from 6 to 8 pm at Freie Universität Berlin (Ihnestr. 22, room G22).

Panel discussion with European correspondents at Freie Universität Berlin

On 16 June 2015, the panel discussion „Europe in Crisis? Correspondents Reporting” will take place at MAXCAP coordinating institution Freie Universität Berlin. The discussion will focus on European correspondents’ insights regarding the German media debate surrounding the EU and current challenges discussed in various media outlets, including an impending “Grexit”, the Ukraine crisis, refugee policy and many other issues.

MAXCAP Partner Sabanci University organizes the Midterm Conference and Young Researchers Workshop in Istanbul, Turkey

On 20-24 April 2015, MAXCAP partner institution Sabanci University (SU) will organize the Midterm Conference and Young Researchers Workshop in Istanbul, Turkey. The MAXCAP Midterm Conference brings together the initial results of the extensive research the involved institutions have so far conducted. In MAXCAP, supported by the European Commission's FP7 programme, they focus on matters relating to the current and future enlargements of the European Union.

MAXCAP Partner BCSDN organizes a public debate on the impact of Turkey’s EU integration process on the Western Balkans

On 7th April 2015, the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), along with the European Policy Institute - Skopje (EPI), organized a public debate on “Rethinking Enlargement? The impact of Turkey’s EU integration process on the Western Balkans” at the EU InfoCentre in Skopje.

MAXCAP scientific coordinator Julia Langbein took part in conference on “The EU and its Eastern Neighbourhood, Challenges and Prospects”

On 24th February 2015, the Permanent Representations of France, the Federal Republic of Germany and Poland to the European Union in Brussels organized a joint conference on current challenges and prospects of the European Neighbourhood Policy. MAXCAP's scientific coordinator Julia Langbein, Freie Universität Berlin, contributed to the panel discussion on how to adapt the goals and tools of the ENP in light of the recent crisis in the EU neighbourhood, sharing insights from recent MAXCAP research.

New book: “Transnationalization and Regulatory Change in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood. Ukraine between Brussels and Moscow” by Dr. Julia Langbein

Julia Langbein, MAXCAP’s scientific coordinator, examines in her recent book why regulatory reforms in the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood countries are happening despite the presence of domestic veto players who favour the status quo, the lack of EU membership perspective and the presence of Russia as an alternative governance provider.

MAXCAP partner Leiden University presents first research findings – “Is Europe coming together?”

On 14th January, 2015 Leiden University, together with the Representation of the European Commission organized an open policy briefing to present first research findings on citizens’ discourses about EU enlargement in four European countries – the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Poland and Serbia. The event, held in The House of Europe in The Hague, was open to experts, officials, media representatives as well as civil society and a wider public.

MAXCAP scholars participate in conference on “EU integration and diverging pathways away from the periphery in Europe”

On 21st and 22nd November 2014, MAXCAP scholars participated in a two-day conference bringing together students of the political economy of European integration with researchers exploring developmental pathways away from the peripheries in Europe. The aim was to discuss the factors that could account for the differences in EU strategies in integrating its Southern and Eastern peripheries and the ways these differences in EU strategies could have influenced developmental pathways in these two peripheries.

MAXCAP partner Professor Adam Fagan quoted in Balkan Insight and Slobodna Bosna

Professor Fagan, commenting on the findings from the MAXCAP workshop in Sarajevo, said that EU strategies must focus on building stronger institutions to protect minority rights in the Western Balkans. This would avoid the mistakes made during past enlargement in Central and Eastern Europe, which has allowed significant back-sliding on minority protection in these countries.

„25 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain: achievements and challenges” – MAXCAP co-coordinator Antoaneta Dimitrova took part in round-table discussion

On 5th December, 2014, the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission hosted the conference „25 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain: achievements and challenges” in Brussels. MAXCAP co-coordinator Antoaneta Dimitrova, Leiden University, contributed to the round-table discussion on ‘The way to go: Current challenges of the integration and lessons for future enlargements’ by sharing insights from recent MAXCAP research. Read a short summary of the conference here.

“EU Integration and Minority Protection in the Western Balkans: mapping the way ahead” – MAXCAP conference in Sarajevo

On 20th and 21st November, 2014, the conference “EU Integration and Minority Protection in the Western Balkans: mapping the way ahead” will take place in Sarajevo at the Radon Plaza Hotel. It is organized as part of the MAXCAP project and aims to evaluate the effectiveness of EU instruments and strategies for strengthening minority rights protection in the Western Balkans.

MAXCAP in Tbilisi: Two joint events with Ilia State University and the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies on the EU’s strategy towards the Eastern Partnership countries

On 7 and 8 October 2014, MAXCAP in partnership with Ilia State University and the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies will organize two public events that shall provide a platform for the review of the EU’s integration tools and strategies and their political and socio-economic impact on the Eastern Partnership countries, as well as to encourage the discussion of fresh ideas and approaches to the subject.

EUI Conference "10 Years of the New Europe" on the Occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Eastern Enlargement

EUI's conference on May 29-30 aimed to understand and assess the impact of the European Union on the new Member States, i.e. to take a closer look at the process of Europeanization. It also proposed to examine the influence of the new member states on the EU as a whole, on its policies (including foreign and security policies), governance and institutions.

MAXCAP partner BCSDN launches new website dedicated to monitoring the enabling environment for civil society in the Western Balkans and Turkey

BCSDN has launched a new website dedicated to monitoring the enabling environment for civil society development in the Western Balkans and Turkey. The new website is based on the Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development (CSDev) which is a tool that has been developed for measuring the health of the legal, regulatory, and financial environment in which civil society organisations (CSOs) operate.

BCSDN invites to a policy workshop discussing “What is the environment in which CSOs work, and what can the EC and Governments do to improve it?”

Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) invites participants to an annual policy workshop which will take place on the 27th of May 2014 in the Residence Palace, GMF Offices in Brussels from 10am to 1pm. This year’s topic is “What is the environment in which CSOs work, and what can the EC and Governments do to improve it?”

Dr Ulrich Sedelmeier (LSE) held a lecture entitled "The EU's Eastern Enlargement: Success and Challenges from a Political Science Perspective" on the 5th of May 2014 during a workshop at the University of Vienna

Dr Ulrich Sedelmeier (London School of Economics and Political Science) held a lecture at the workshop “EU Enlargement 2004, 10 Years after: Politics and Law” organized by the Institute for European Integration and the Department of European International and Comparative Law of the University of Vienna on the 5th of May 2014.

Workshop on Q methodology in Sofia: discovering national level discourses related to EU enlargement

A workshop on Q methodology and its usefulness for discovering national level discourses related to EU enlargement took place in Sofia on 28 and 29 April, 2014. The workshop was organized by Sofia University and included participants from Leiden University, the Balkan Civil Society Development Network, Sabanci University and the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

ECPR Joint Sessions in Salamanca: Presenting MAXCAP’s research, website and papers and MAXCAP scholars present their research

The workshop "Ten Years on: Evaluating Eastern Enlargement" took place from 11 to 15 April 2014 in Salamanca as part of the joint sessions of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR). MAXCAP co-coordinator Antoaneta Dimitrova directed the workshop together with Aron Buzogány from Freie Universität Berlin. The workshop was an opportunity to disseminate MAXCAP’s ideas and questions among a wider network of scholars interested in enlargement related issues and also an opportunity to present current MAXCAP research.


Out now: MAXCAP Working Paper No. 2

The MAXCAP Working Paper No. 2 “The ‘Old’ and the ‘New’ Europeans: Analyses of Public Opinion on EU Enlargement in Review” by Dimiter Toshkov, Elitsa Kortenska, Antoaneta Dimitrova and Adam Fagan has been published. You can download the Working Paper here.

This working paper takes stock of what existing public surveys and academic studies reveal about the state and about the determinants of the opinions, attitudes and evaluations of EU citizens about past and future enlargements of the EU.

MAXCAP and Open Access - An overview presenting the European Commission's Open Access policies and requirements

Antoaneta Dimitrova, as one of MAXCAP’s project coordinators, attended an open access training on 12 November 2013 in Brussels, organized by the Flash IT project of the FP7 of the European Commission. There were presentations by Daniel Spichtinger, Open Access officer at the European Commission, Viktoria Tsoukala, from the National Documentation Centre in Athens, Greece and Professor Alma Swan, director of several open access advocacy groups and NGOs and a specialist in Open Access.

Out Now: Special Issue of the Journal on Common Market Studies with Contributions from MAXCAP Scholars

A Special Issue entitled “Eastern Enlargement Ten Years On: Transcending the East-West Divide?” has been published by the Journal of Common Market Studies (JCMS) and includes several contributions by MAXCAP researchers. This special issue examines the consequences of the European Union’s Eastern enlargement ten years after it has been initiated.

Enlargement Strategy 2013 Brings Increased Focus on Civil Society Enabling Environment

For the 5th consecutive year, the MAXCAP Partner Institution Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) analyzed how the European Commission has treated the issue of civil society development (CSDev) in the Enlargement Strategy and Progress Reports 2013 and assessed the progress made form the past year in the Enlargement countries.

International Conference: The European Neighbourhood Policy in the Eastern Region in Practice - Achievements and Perspectives before the Vilnius Summit

On 22 November 2013, the European Neighbourhood Policy Chair will host a conference on the occasion of the publication of a Special Issue of East European Politics entitled "The European Neighbourhood Policy in the Eastern Region: The Practices Perspective", co-edited by Ms Elena KOROSTELEVA, Professor of International Politics at Kent University, Dr Michał NATORSKI, Senior Research Fellow in the ENP Chair, and Dr Licínia SIMÃO, Assistant Professor in International Relations at the University of Coimbra.

Aid Transparency Index (ATI) assessment of the European Comission's DG Enlargement

The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) evalutes the Aid Transparency Index (ATI) assessment of the DG Enlargement. The 2013 index was published in October and includes an evaluation of four European Commission departments (ECHO, DG, DEVCO, FPI). For DG enlargement, the BCSDN sees considerable room for improvement on transparency which could set a significant transparency benchmark for accession country institutions.

Q-Methodology: An Introduction

As part of the MAXCAP research project, employing an inter-disciplinary and mixed methods approach that combines desk research, in-depth interviews and Q-methodology has been an essential part of the project from the very beginning. Now, Leeds Metropolitan University has created a very simple and fun video to explain how Q-methodology works. Since some of the MAXCAP researchers have been using exactly this method in their current research, for example Elitsa Kortenska at Leiden University, we wanted to share this helpful video:

Tanja Hafner Ademi speaks at oversight hearing on IPA funds at the Macedonia Parliament

Tanja Hafner Ademi, Executive Director of BCSDN was a witness at an oversight hearing on IPA funds at the Macedonia Parliament taking place on 11th July, 2013. The hearing was organized by the Committee for European Affairs. To read more about this hearing as well as Tanja Hafner Ademi's presentation, please visit the website of the Balkan Civil Society Development Network here.

Kick-Off-Conference: May 30th – June 1st, 2013 in Berlin

MAXCAP’s Kick-Off-Conference aims at bringing together renowned scholars from the interdisciplinary fields of EU Studies addressing MAXCAP-related topics from different angles. As the title suggests, the conference intends to provide a first forum for the exchange of ideas and viewpoints of the partners involved in the MAXCAP project as well as external guests.

The participation is open for anyone interested in the topic.