- June 22, 2026
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- June 23, 2026
The Western Balkans are once again navigating a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the rise of authoritarian influence, and shifting transatlantic dynamics are reshaping the security environment across Europe – with direct implications for the region’s stability and European integration prospects. What are the most pressing security challenges facing the Western Balkans today, and what role should the EU and its member states play to strengthen resilience and stability?On June 22–23, 2026, Aspen Institute Germany convened its annual High-Level Western Balkans Working Group in Berlin. In a closed-door format, around 20 high-level government representatives from the Western Balkans, officials from EU institutions, the German government, and the German Bundestag, as well as selected policy experts, assessed current geopolitical developments and the state of the EU enlargement process.Alongside the working group, a public panel discussion provided an opportunity for open dialogue. Christoph Israng, Director-General for Europe at the German Federal Foreign Office, engaged in discussion with government representatives from the Western Balkans – Kreshnik Ahmeti, Josip Brkić, Megi Fino, Miroslav Gačević, Periša Kastratović and Ilber Sela. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany.
Three key discussion points were:
Strategic Importance vs. Shrinking Attention
The Western Balkans remain strategically important but risk losing international attention. Russia’s war against Ukraine, rising authoritarian influence, and competing global crises have increased the geopolitical significance of the region. At the same time, there is concern that international focus and resources may shift elsewhere, making sustained engagement by the EU and its partners essential.
Hybrid Threats and Democratic Resilience
Hybrid threats pose growing challenges to regional stability and democratic resilience. Disinformation campaigns, economic dependencies, and political polarization are increasingly undermining democratic institutions and social cohesion across the region. Strengthening resilience, strategic communication, and regional security cooperation emerged as key priorities.
EU Enlargement at a Critical Juncture
The credibility of EU enlargement is at a critical juncture. The renewed enlargement debate following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised important questions about fairness, credibility, and the future of the accession process. While geopolitical considerations have increased the urgency of enlargement, the Western Balkans still require deeper reforms in the areas of rule of law, governance, and anti-corruption, while the EU must demonstrate a more credible and consistent commitment to integration.The insights developed during the working group will inform the preparation of the Western Balkans Conference on Security, taking place in the fall of 2026. The event is part of the “SECURE – Stability, European Cooperation & Unity for Regional Engagement” project, kindly supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
