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Seven rounds of enlargement have already taken place, each reshaping both the European Union and the countries that joined it. This process has played a crucial role in spreading stability,peace, and prosperity across the European continent.
Today, the European Union consists of 27 member states. Since the largest waves of enlargement in 2004 and 2007, only Croatia has joined the EU. Currently, ten countries are involved in the accession process.
Moldova submitted its application for EU membership on 3 March 2022, and on 23 June 2022, it was granted candidate status and given a European perspective. How will this process continue?
This and many other questions will bediscussed by:
Antoaneta Barta is a career diplomat since 1999. She has served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Czech Republic since 2021. Previous assignments include several management positions in the MFA headquarters, as well as at the Embassy of Romania in Athens and at the Permanent Representation of Romania to the EU in Brussels. She holds the rank of Ambassador within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in European Studies (both taught in French) from the University of Bucharest. In 2016, she completed the ENA (now the Institut National du Service Public) High-Level Executive Course in European Studies.
Aleš Balut holds a Graduate Diploma in Political Sciences from the University of Ljubljana. Since 2024, he has served as Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Czech Republic. He began his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, initially working in the Department for Analysis and Development and later on EU affairs. He subsequently served as Head of Cabinet to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a Foreign Policy Adviser in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Slovenia. He also held several senior positions within the Office of the High Representative/EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gabriela Moraru is a career diplomat with 30 years of experience in diplomacy. She graduated from the State University of Moldova, completed studies at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Romania, and obtained a master’s degree in international relations in Italy and Greece. She has held several key positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She began her diplomatic career abroad in Hungary and later served in Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, the Holy See, Poland, and Estonia. She then served as Ambassador to Israel and is currently Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
Edita Hrdá is a Czech diplomat with extensive experience in European affairs, Latin America, and multilateral diplomacy. She has led the Czech Mission to the United Nations in New York and served as Senior Director/Managing Director for the Americas at the European External Action Service (EEAS). She also headed the Czech representation to the EU (COREPER II) during the Czech EU Presidency. As of 2025, she serves as the Czech Government Envoy for the Balkans, coordinating inter-ministerial cooperation, supporting the Western Balkans’ integration into the EU and NATO, and promoting Czech involvement in regional projects.
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