Wider Europe Conference at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The participants reviewed the development of the European Union's external policy following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty an analysed how those changes affect enlargement policy and relations with the EU's neighbourhood. Detailed programme of the event can found here.

The European Parliament President, Jerzy Buzek, opened the conference with a keynote speech. This was followed by a panel of Members of the European Parliament from different political families. 

In the final session on February 3. three eminent specialists discussed the future of the EU's external policy following the changes produced by the Lisbon Treaty and the creation of the European External Action Service.

The first session on February 4. analysed the future of enlargement policy. This session was introduced by a general analysis of EU enlargement policy, followed by papers on the ‘nationalisation’ of enlargement policy and on public opinion on enlargement in the member states.

The two final sessions were devoted to the European Union's Neighbourhood Policy and particularly to the Association Agreements currently being negotiated with several East European countries. 

This session was introduced by EEAS director, Gunnar Wiegand. These treaties contain deep and comprehensive free trade area agreements, which were dealt with by a senior official from the European Commission's Trade Directorate General. This session was chaired by Heather Grabbe Director OSI Brussels.

In the final session the Ambassadors of Ukraine and Georgia to the European Union and a senior researcher from the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik in Berlin discussed how EU integration is viewed in the countries of Eastern Europe. This session was chaired by Olga Shumylo-Tapiola, from the Carnegie Europe Centre.