KCSS Highlights the SMIDGE Project at the 4th EU Accession Exchange Forum in Kyiv

Our colleague Ramadan Ilazi, Head of Research at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), participated in the 4th EU Accession Exchange Forum held in Kyiv. The event was organised by the New Europe Center in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

The EU Accession Exchange Forum is a key expert platform bringing together practitioners, policymakers, and experts from EU candidate and aspirant countries to exchange lessons learned in the accession process and develop recommendations to make the EU enlargement process more effective and inclusive.

During the panel discussion “Stronger Together: Ukraine, Accession Countries, and Europe’s Security Interdependence,” Ilazi emphasised Ukraine’s crucial contribution to Europe’s collective security.

“Ukraine is contributing and sacrificing for our collective security,” he said, “and has created new momentum in the EU enlargement process from which the entire Western Balkans are benefiting.”

He also highlighted the importance of addressing disinformation as a shared European challenge, stressing that “European integration cannot be slower than Russian disinformation.”

Beyond his participation in the forum, he also met with faculty members from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. During the conversation, he shared insights on the ongoing work within the SMIDGE project.

The SMIDGE engagement in Kyiv served to present the key objectives and findings of the project and to explore opportunities for collaboration with Ukrainian academic and civil society. This exchange reflected the shared understanding that information security and democratic resilience are integral components of the EU integration process.

The 4th EU Accession Exchange Forum continues to serve as an important platform for dialogue among EU candidate countries, helping shape the future of European integration based on shared experiences, solidarity, and security cooperation.