The enlargement of the European Union: a strategic choice? France, the Western Balkans, and the EU in an uncertain geopolitical context

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30, an event will take place either online or at the Ifri located at 27 rue de la procession, 75015 Paris.

The ongoing war led by Russia against Ukraine has brought the enlargement of the European Union back to the forefront of European strategic debates. In this context, the Western Balkans are gaining increased visibility in discussions on the continent’s security, amidst a growing international environment characterized by multiple destabilizing factors.

Efforts to destabilize attributed to Russia, China’s increasing use of economic instruments for influence, and a perceived more transactional, invisible, and sometimes disruptive approach by the United States, contribute to complicating European decision-making. In light of these developments, France’s position seems to be evolving towards a more strategic approach to enlargement, seen not only as a political integration project but also as a potential lever for stability and credibility for the Union.

The conference aims to explore how enlargement can truly enhance the EU’s geopolitical resilience without jeopardizing its institutional, political, and budgetary balances. It also seeks to address how to prevent short-term geopolitical imperatives from overshadowing the requirements of internal coherence and sustainability of the European project.

Scheduled agenda for the event includes welcoming remarks from Dominique David, an opening statement by Benjamin Haddad, and a debate featuring speakers such as Pierre Vimont, Jovana Marović, Nikola Dimitrov, and Doris Wydra. The conference will be chaired by Florent Marciacq and is organized in cooperation with the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) and the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG).