In an article by Benjamin Haddad, the French diplomatic vision regarding the enlargement of the European Union is highlighted as a strategic necessity to ensure the geopolitical stability of the continent. The integration of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova is seen as a security imperative against external threats and foreign interference. While expressing support for this, Benjamin Haddad emphasizes the strict adherence to accession criteria, especially in terms of rule of law and economic reforms, and also proposes innovative ideas, such as creating an associated member state status to facilitate gradual integration.
Furthermore, there is a call to strengthen European cohesion and deepen cultural and historical ties with candidate countries to consolidate the unity of the European project. The war waged by Russia against Ukraine has brought the enlargement of the European Union back to the center of European strategic debates. In this context, the Western Balkans regain increased visibility in discussions on continental security, as the international environment is marked by a proliferation of destabilizing factors.
The attempts at destabilization attributed to Russia, China’s increasing use of economic instruments for influence, and a perceived more transactional, unpredictable, and sometimes disruptive positioning by the United States contribute to complicating European choices. Faced with these developments, the French position appears to be shifting towards a more strategic approach to enlargement, not only as a political integration project but also as a potential lever for stability and credibility for the Union.
To what extent can enlargement actually strengthen the EU’s geopolitical resilience without undermining its institutional, political, and budgetary balances? How can short-term geopolitical imperatives be prevented from overshadowing the requirements of internal coherence and sustainability of the European project?
Find out more about the conference “The Enlargement of the European Union: A Strategic Choice? France, the Western Balkans, and the EU in an Uncertain Geopolitical Context,” organized by Ifri and the Franco-Austrian Center for Reconciliation in Europe (CFA), on March 24, 2026.
