20 May 2026
Securing enlargement: Advancing WB6 Gradual integration in the EU through cybersecurity, FDI screening, and rule of law
Country Western Balkans
Date 6 October 2025
Author Mentor Vrajolli and Ramandan Ilazi
Publisher Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
The Western Balkans Six (WB6) are at a crucial stage in their EU integration journey, as shifting geopolitics and security concerns place enlargement back on the EU agenda. Three priority areas—cybersecurity, foreign direct investment (FDI) screening, and rule of law—represent both vulnerabilities and opportunities. Unaddressed, they could expose the region as the EU’s “soft underbelly,” but through phased integration, they could strengthen security and democratic resilience. The EU’s existing frameworks—ENISA, the FDI Screening Regulation, and the Rule of Law Report—offer pathways for operational cooperation. WB6 governments should swiftly align legislation, adopt FDI screening mechanisms, and reinforce cybersecurity agencies and CSIRTs. Regionally, coordination and information-sharing must improve, with EU support through IPA III and the Reform and Growth Facility. Deepened cooperation would reduce security risks, safeguard the Single Market, and prove that enlargement is an investment in long-term stability.
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