The raison d'être of this annual event is the growing realization - among the EU institutions and partner countries alike - that for a country joining the EU, it is not enough to prepare its central government and administration. In fact, local and regional authorities will also need to be fully prepared for accession, as perhaps 70 per cent or more of EU legislation will have an impact on them. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) – the EU's expert body on multi-level governance and subsidiarity - is helping to prepare countries for EU accession. The annual Enlargement Day offers a forum for political dialogue and capacity-building.
With the granting of candidate country status to Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, EU enlargement policy is now in a particularly sharp political focus. This year's event also celebrated 2023 as the European Year of Skills. We explored what skills are needed by local and regional decision-makers who face increasing demands to operate in line with EU rules and procedures, and by citizens faced with issues such as brain-drain to the EU.
The 2023 event was organized in co-operation with the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU.