In his day, the Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously noted that “change is the only constant.” That axiom has held true for centuries. Even so, today’s geopolitical changes stand out for their speed, depth, and reach. Recent shifts in the structure of the world order have profoundly affected the international economy, contributed to global insecurity, and touched virtually every segment of individual societies. And they have done so more profoundly than at any time in living memory.
Europe is clearly struggling to adapt to this new reality. In Brussels and other European capitals, there are now heated conversations about “strategic autonomy,” future threats to the Western order, and how best to preserve stability in Europe’s immediate neighborhood. To successfully navigate all of these debates, Europe will need to simultaneously pass two important tests.
The first test, institutional transformation, requires Europe to change how it operates. At present, European politics are too often defined by a search for consensus that makes decisive action difficult. That approach is increasingly out of step with current geopolitical realities. Member states simply cannot remain tied to procedures that prevent Europe from responding quickly and resolutely to new challenges.
Instead, the EU should make greater use of “coalitions of the willing,” in which blocs of like-minded states advance projects and objectives that affect them directly. Europe has done this before; initiatives like Schengen and the Eurozone show that groups of countries can move ahead with common priorities without undermining the larger European project. In fact, such arrangements can strengthen the EU by giving it greater flexibility and allowing it to respond more quickly to changing global conditions.
Тhe second test concerns the EU’s ability to integrate new members. The last two major waves of EU enlargement took place during a very different international era, in which democracy, human rights, and free markets were dominant priorities. Back then, the goal was clear: anchoring the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe in the Western liberal order.
By contrast, today’s enlargement is unfolding in a multipolar world that is still taking shape. In this environment, integrating the Western Balkans into Europe represents a strategic necessity. The alternative, a power vacuum in parts of Europe, would be destabilizing both for the continent’s periphery and for the European Union itself. It would also create greater opportunities for outside powers to expand their political, economic and strategic influence in regions that should naturally be part of a wider European community.
Making Integration A Reality
Such a process should begin with economics. Full integration of all Western Balkan countries into the EU should remain the ultimate objective, with “gradual integration”—near-term benefits ahead of full membership—serving as an essential step toward this goal. Bringing the countries of my region, the Western Balkans, into the European Single Market via a strategy of gradual integration represents the most practical way to move them closer to the EU. The goal should be to ensure that all, and not just some, have a clear path toward participation in the Single Market, provided they undertake the structural reforms necessary to accept its acquis, the body of laws and regulations governing trade, energy, transport, and other policies.
To make this possible, European bodies, particularly the European Commission, need to clearly define how gradual integration will work and establish transparent ways to measure progress. Doing so would send a powerful message to the Western Balkans that the region has a future inside Europe. It would also give regional governments a practical reason to undertake reforms that are often difficult and politically unpopular.
Similarly, integrating Western Balkan nations more closely into EU institutions would send a strong signal to their citizens—that the idea of European enlargement is alive and well, and that membership is a realistic goal. Equally important are structured consultations with Balkan stakeholders regarding EU economic policies, which would better prepare governments, businesses, and consumers for deeper integration while giving them a greater stake in the reforms needed to make it possible. Of course, policymakers in Brussels will need to recognize the economic limitations of the region and ensure that the costs of integration do not price nascent partners out of meaningful participation.
Transportation is one area where faster progress is particularly vital. At its 2024 Summit in Washington, NATO highlighted the importance of such corridors as part of its planning for a robust defense against possible future Russian aggression. The Western Balkans, by dint of their geography, has a large role to play in this conversation, because the region sits astride critical routes connecting Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and southeastern Europe. That makes its infrastructure important not simply for commerce but also for European security. The EU should therefore naturally make Western Balkan nations a bigger part of its plans for infrastructure projects and transport corridors.
Impact-oriented investment is equally important. Greater private sector involvement in the Western Balkans would serve as a much-needed sign of sustained attention on the part of European stakeholders. If properly managed, such investments could benefit local economies while also generating returns for European companies and private investors. Meanwhile, the accompanying reforms needed to ensure such a sustained European stake (ranging from legislative changes to labor requirements to infrastructure priorities) would help bring Western Balkans nations that much closer to European standards.
There is also a broader strategic logic at play here. Greater European investment and integration would reduce the space available for external actors to exploit economic weaknesses or political divisions in the region. The Western Balkans have long been a crossroads where the interests of Europe and outside powers intersect. Ensuring that the region is economically connected to, and politically invested in, the European project is essential to the continent’s long-term security.
The result would be a wider Europe, characterized by greater stability and cohesion. It would also demonstrate that enlargement remains one of the European Union’s most powerful strategic instruments. At a time when the international order is becoming more fragmented and competitive, bringing the Western Balkans firmly into the European fold would highlight to the world that the EU still has the capacity to unite the continent, address complex challenges, and seize the strategic moment.