Scientific Advisor Dr. Sandro Knezović participated in the Cyprus Forum 2026, held in Nicosia from 28 to 30 September 2026. The Cyprus Forum is an independent, not-for-profit policy forum organised by Oxygen for Democracy, bringing together political leaders, policymakers, academics, business representatives, journalists and civil society to exchange views on issues shaping Cyprus, Europe and the wider Eastern Mediterranean.
Dr. Knezović participated as a speaker in the panel discussion “Europe’s Strategic Test: Enlargement, Security, and Cohesion,” which focused on the increasingly important geopolitical dimension of European Union enlargement and the challenges that accompany further enlargement of the Union. The discussion addressed the growing strategic rationale for EU enlargement, particularly in light of the evolving European security environment, while examining the institutional, economic and political conditions required to ensure that enlargement strengthens rather than undermines the Union’s capacity and cohesion. Particular attention was given to questions of institutional reform, the EU’s absorption capacity, regional convergence, security considerations, and the implications of instability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Dr. Knezović’s participation contributed a regional perspective to the discussion, with particular emphasis on the Western Balkans and the role of enlargement as a strategic instrument for strengthening European security, stability and cohesion.
