On April 17, 2025, Sofia Tech Park hosted the fourth edition of the EU Meets the Balkans Forum – a platform for regional dialogue, commitment to European integration, and sustainable growth.
Jointly organized by the European Liberal Forum (ELF), the ALDE Party, and the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, the forum once again affirmed its role as one of the leading events dedicated to the political and institutional path of the Balkans toward the European Union. The event was held at the John Atanasoff Innovation Forum in Sofia Tech Park and attracted representatives of national governments, European institutions, diplomats, analysts, and media from across the region.
Leadership voices at the opening
The official opening featured addresses by Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI); Dr. Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria; Vasil Terziev, Mayor of Sofia; and Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Member of the European Parliament and President of the European Liberal Forum. They emphasized that Balkan integration into the EU is not just a long-term goal, but an immediate response to today’s challenges.
The Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Yotova, delivered a special address, highlighting the need for strategic unity around values such as democracy, stability, and development.
A new European push for enlargement
The keynote address was delivered by Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, who emphasized the importance of a focused and predictable enlargement policy, with a clear framework and tangible support for reforms in candidate countries. At a time when enlargement is back on the agenda, her speech offered a vision for deeper engagement of the Western Balkans with the EU’s strategic objectives.
Panel discussion: Taking stock of growth
Under the theme “Taking Stock of Growth: Building Our Common Future,” the main panel brought together representatives from regional governments. The discussion was moderated by Elena Poptodorova, Vice President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. Ministers and deputy ministers from Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey participated.
Topics covered the practical dimensions of integration – from institutional preparedness and market connectivity to cultural exchange and public trust. Participants emphasized that the region’s future is inseparable from developments within the EU and that shared growth requires both political will and sustainable mechanisms for cooperation.
Politics, vision, and realism: a fireside conversation
The forum concluded with a fireside chat between Marta Kos and political scientist Ivan Krastev, moderated by journalist Boyko Vassilev. The discussion explored realistic horizons for European enlargement and possible ways to overcome skepticism – both in the candidate countries and within the EU itself. The conversation drew the line between rhetoric and action, underscoring the need for transparent and lasting commitments from all parties involved in the process.
