EAIE 2025: Cooperation with enlargement countries to build a bridge and pave the way to the EU of 2030

"We are at a critical moment with currently 27 member states in the European Union, but there is an aspiration to be at 30 or more by 2030. We believe that a larger union will bring more stability, peace and resilience to the European Union", states Filip Van Depoele, Deputy Head of Unit of the Education Department at the European Commission, on 11/09/2025.

He is speaking during the EAIE annual conference, taking place from 09 to 12/09 in Gothenburg (Sweden), in a session about cooperation with enlargement countries.

According to the Commission, enlarging the Union would mean 20 million additional students and staff in higher education across ten emerging countries.

The ten countries that are candidates for EU enlargement are Moldova, Ukraine, Albania, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among those, three are already participants in Erasmus+: Turkey, Serbia and North Macedonia.

"We view education policies and cooperation as a strong means to build increased linkages, strengthen our collaboration, and prepare for accession…