Over the past two decades, the integration of the Western Balkan states into the European Union (EU) has been synonymous with security and prosperity for the region and the European continent at large. Currently, five of these countries—Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia—are vying for membership, enjoying the status of candidate countries, while Kosovo remains a potential candidate, with ongoing issues regarding its international legitimacy and statehood. This reflects the complexities associated with EU expansion in a geopolitically sensitive area.

The article also highlights the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has accelerated EU integration processes for Ukraine and initiated discussions about the future of a region still healing from the destructive wars of the 1990s. The hope for peaceful coexistence, as evidenced by the Prespa Agreement, contrasts sharply with the lingering inter-Balkan issues that complicate a cohesive path forward for these countries seeking to join the EU.

As the geopolitical landscape shifts with factors such as security threats from outside powers, the EU's approach to Balkan integration may face both challenges and opportunities. The intersection of internal Balkan dynamics with broader geopolitical tensions underscores the necessity for a nuanced policy that ensures both stability in the region and alignment with EU values and standards, hence intertwining the concepts of expansion and deepening of the EU framework.