Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine brought severe security, political and societal challenges to the Central and East European region. These challenges demanded a constructive response and support from the European Union and other western democracies. They hastened EU accession perspectives for Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, with Ukraine obtaining candidate status in June 2022 and accession negotiations beginning in November 2023. Regular reviews, a key part of the EU integration process, report on the progress and further steps needed as Ukraine moves along its path into the EU, even in the context of war. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues its participation in the EU’s Eastern Partnership programme.

Within this context, Belarus and the Belarusian people are trapped in a state of liminality, oppressed by the Lukashenka regime within the country, and marginalised in international attention by war and conflict elsewhere. This liminality is damaging: on the one hand, Belarusians are held hostage to Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s support of Russia’s war, including through lending its territory and logistics for Putin’s aggression against Ukraine; while, on the other hand, the Belarusian Democratic Forces and civil society have taken up fight in defence of their pro-European choice and for a future in the EU.

Experts, practitioners and policymakers alike must recognise and engage with both countries’ European perspectives, despite their different situations. The conference 'EU Integration pathways for Ukraine and Belarus: lessons to learn' aims to contribute to, and advance, these ongoing discussions and debates on the EU’s eastern enlargement in the challenging contexts of war in Ukraine and civil conflict in Belarus. For more details about the programme, please see here.

Please register here for participation.