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Leaders Gather in Brussels for Landmark Euronews Enlargement Summit on Europe’s Future
European and candidate country leaders are converging in Brussels for the first-ever Euronews Enlargement Summit, a landmark event that will shape the future of European integration and enlargement policy. The live televised summit, taking place on Tuesday, brings together top political figures from the European Union and nations aspiring to join it, amid renewed momentum for the bloc’s expansion toward the east and southeast.
European Council President António Costa will join a high-profile lineup that includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Montenegro’s Milojko Spajić, and North Macedonia’s Hristijan Mickoski. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos will also participate.
The summit, hosted by Euronews, offers a rare platform for candidate countries to express their perspectives directly to EU leaders. The event comes as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen redefines the enlargement process as a “reunification of Europe,” signaling a fresh political and emotional investment in the bloc’s future composition.
Each leader is expected to address the opportunities and challenges facing their nation’s EU aspirations. Ukraine, which applied for EU membership just days after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, gained candidate status in record time. Despite ongoing conflict, Kyiv continues to push forward with reforms. Moldova, which followed Ukraine’s lead a week later, is on an accelerated path, with EU officials suggesting it could conclude negotiations by 2027.
Elsewhere in the Western Balkans, progress has been mixed. Serbia, which began accession talks in 2014, faces waning public enthusiasm, though both Belgrade and Brussels maintain that Serbia’s future lies within the EU. Albania, one of the region’s frontrunners, is targeting membership by 2030, while Montenegro hopes to complete negotiations by 2026 and join by 2028. North Macedonia’s path has been the longest and most turbulent, with disputes involving Greece and Bulgaria delaying its journey toward membership.
The summit coincides with the European Commission’s upcoming 2025 Enlargement Package, an annual review of candidate countries’ progress. According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 56% of EU citizens support enlargement — with particularly strong support among younger Europeans.
By bringing together leaders in open dialogue, the Euronews Enlargement Summit aims to provide not just a policy forum but a public stage for the exchange of visions about Europe’s next chapter. The event underscores the growing belief that enlargement is not merely a bureaucratic process — but a defining step toward a more secure, democratic, and united continent.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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