Biography
Gjoni, Iliriana is a Research Analyst at Carnegie Europe in Brussels, where she focuses on EU enlargement, democratic resilience, European security, and the Western Balkans. Her work sits at the intersection of research and policy practice: she authors publications, briefs policymakers, moderates high-level discussions, and works with European institutions, governments, and civil society on enlargement and broader geopolitical challenges.
As a Policy Leader Fellow at the European University Institute's School of Transnational Governance, Gjoni will examine how the European Union can restore the credibility of enlargement in an increasingly contested geopolitical environment. Her research asks why technical compliance with accession requirements no longer automatically translates into political legitimacy and public support, and how the EU can strengthen enlargement without lowering standards. While grounded in governance and policy analysis, her work also explores how culture, identity, and historical narratives shape support for European integration and how they can contribute to rebuilding trust in the enlargement process.
This interdisciplinary perspective draws on Gjoni's parallel career as an international concert pianist and cultural diplomacy practitioner. As a OneBeat Music Diplomacy Fellow - an initiative of the U.S. Department of State - she has designed and led cultural initiatives that use music as a platform for dialogue, international collaboration, and public engagement. Bringing together policy research and cultural practice, she is particularly interested in how cultural initiatives can strengthen democratic resilience, societal cohesion, and European integration.
Iliriana holds a Master's degree in European Studies from KU Leuven and two Master's degrees in Piano Performance from the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe. She is fluent in Albanian, Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian, English, German, and Italian, with working knowledge of French and Spanish.