February 24, 2026.

This policy brief authored by Tefta Kelmendi and published by the Jacques Delors Institute in February 2026, examines the role of enlargement to the Western Balkans in the context of European security. Given the current context marked by the war in Ukraine and growing geopolitical tensions, enlargement can no longer be based exclusively on traditional accession criteria and must take better account of security and defense issues.

The analysis advocates for closer ties between candidate countries and the European security and defense system. Several countries in the region are already modernizing their military capacities, supporting Ukraine and participating in NATO or EU operations. The Western Balkans also possess significant industrial potential in the fields of ammunition, artillery and military infrastructure.

Therefore it advocates for the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into European security and defense initiatives, particularly through funding programs, joint industrial projects and the development of dual-use infrastructure. It argues that the enlargement policy must now contribute more directly to the continent’s resilience and security by making the stabilisation of the Western Balkans a strategic objective in its entirety for the European Union.

You can find this policy brief authored by Kelmendi, T. “Enlargement to the Balkans, crucial for Europe’s security”Jacques Delors Institute, February 2026, here.