In an increasingly interconnected, complex and unstable Mediterranean region, questions of security span beyond military concerns to include economic stability and energy resilience. The Western Balkans, with their strategic position at the crossroads between Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean, play a key role in this evolving landscape. Strengthening economic ties and fostering energy cooperation across the Balkans could contribute to a more secure and prosperous Mediterranean. In this context, the prospect of EU enlargement to the Balkan region offers not just a means of integrating these countries into European frameworks but also a potential avenue to enhance regional stability and mitigate external vulnerabilities. While the path towards enlargement remains a long-term aspiration, its consideration within the broader security framework could foster a more cohesive Mediterranean, capable of addressing shared challenges such as economic disparities and energy dependencies.

What role for the Balkans in securing in the Mediterranean? How can the integration of the Western Balkans into Mediterranean economic and energy frameworks bolster regional security? What role can the prospect of EU enlargement play in stabilising the Mediterranean region? How can economic and energy cooperation in the Balkan region contribute to reducing external influences on Mediterranean security?