Young European Ambassadors lead dialogue on EU Enlargement at CEPS Ideas Lab 2026 in Brussels

On 2-3 March, in Brussels, Belgium, ten Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from the Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans took part in the CEPS Ideas Lab 2026 to discuss the future of EU enlargement.

The session, titled ‘The future of Europe in the making: Young European Ambassadors on EU enlargement’, was held during the final afternoon of the prestigious two-day forum. As the only session open to all participants during its timeslot, it provided a platform for voices from candidate and aspirant countries.

The event featured YEAs representing four countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia) and countries from the Western Balkans. These young leaders shared first-hand perspectives on the domestic realities of the integration process, moving beyond technical chapters to discuss the hopes and frustrations of a generation shaped by geopolitical turbulence.

Moderated by Tinatin Akhvlediani, Research Fellow at CEPS, the interactive panel explored what European integration actually means for citizens on the ground and what political and social obstacles stand in the way of full EU membership.

In addition to the main panel, the ambassadors hosted an info-stand, engaging with forum delegates to raise awareness about the YEA initiative and the EU’s cooperation with neighboring regions.

“CEPS Ideas Lab was such a refreshing and inspiring experience for me as a young advocate for Ukraine and a Young European Ambassador. Being immersed in discussions on Europe’s most pressing issues, from the economy and AI to science and current politics, was truly remarkable,” said a YEAs from Ukraine Viktoriia Barylovska. 

“For us, as Young European Ambassadors, it was not only a valuable chance to deepen our understanding of current European affairs, but also to strengthen our networking ties with diverse professionals and representatives of international organisations,” added Mariam Galstyan, a YEA from Armenia. “The event also provided a platform to present the issue of EU enlargement from a youth perspective, while reflecting on the specific experiences and trajectories of our respective countries.”

The Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) initiative brings together socially engaged youth from the six Eastern Partner countries, the European Union and the United Kingdom to foster dialogue and to raise awareness about the EU and its cooperation with its Eastern partner countries.