Europe’s Overlooked Allies: Why the Western Balkans Matter for EU Defence Readiness

This report explores the strategic importance of the Western Balkans in the context of the EU’s pursuit of strategic autonomy and enhanced defence readiness.It underscores the argument that Western Balkan countries—despite not yet being EU member states—have increasingly proven their value as security contributors and partners. This contribution is both timely and essential as the EU confronts the implications of the war in Ukraine and potential shifts in the transatlantic security relationship. At the EU level, recent initiatives, such as the 2024 European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) and the 2025 White Paper on European Defence, aim to enhance collective readiness and industrial capability. Yet, the full potential of regional partnerships—particularly with the Western Balkan region—has not been fully realized, undercutting the ability to leverage and further develop their defence capabilities. This potential is based on significant investments in the national defence capabilities, including through the purchase of European military goods, but also the upgrading of the regions’ own defence industries. Moreover, most of the countries in the region have provided significant support to Ukraine and actively participate in CSDP missions. They also contribute to strategic enablers, such as military mobility, joint training and medical support, assuming increased responsibility for the security in South-East Europe. The Western Balkan’s existing capabilities align with several EU defence priorities outlined in the Readiness 2030 agenda, particularly in artillery ammunition production, drone systems, and logistics. Integration of the region’s capabilities into EU frameworks would support Europe’s preparedness for high-intensity conflicts. Despite this clear potential, the EU’s defence and enlargement policies often operate in separate “silos”. In order to achieve true European strategic autonomy, the EU must adopt a more synergistic approach, leveraging the Western Balkans’ defence contributions as a reason to accelerate their integration into the Union. To that effect, full CFSP alignment and rule of law improvements in the Western Balkans are as important as the region’s material contribution. The Western Balkans are evolving from security consumers to proactive contributors to European defence. Their rising investments, operational commitments, industrial capabilities, and strategic location make them indispensable allies. As the EU seeks to meet the challenges of an increasingly volatile security environment, full engagement with the region—politically, operationally, and economically—offers a strategic opportunity to enhance resilience, autonomy, and readiness across Europe.