News: The Economic Dimension of EU enlargement: MFF, Growth Plans and Opportunities
On 5 March 2026, CeSPI – Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale and the EFDS – European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity hosted a joint webinar dedicated to the economic dimension of EU enlargement.
The discussion focused on the potential economic impact of the accession of the Western Balkans to the European Union, particularly in relation to Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). An even more complex scenario concerns the possible accession of Ukraine, which raises structural questions about the future balance, sustainability and redistribution mechanisms of the EU budget.
Key questions addressed during the webinar included:
– whether the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), currently under discussion, can effectively serve as a bridge to accession;
– how enlargement might reshape EU financial governance;
– and what opportunities could emerge in the medium term for investment, economic convergence and businesses.
