Securing Enlargement: Advancing WB6 gradual integration in the EU through cybersecurity, FDI screening and Rule of Law

The Western Balkans Six (WB6) stand at a pivotal moment in the EU integration process. The dramatically changing geopolitical context and the need for resilience in critical sectors have put enlargement and security back at the heart of the EU agenda, creating urgency for the integration of the region. Particularly, three key areas – cybersecurity, screening of foreign direct investments, and rule of law in the Western Balkans – sit on the edge between vulnerability and opportunity. If left unaddressed they risk weakening both the region and the EU. On the other hand, through phased integration in the EU, they can become early wins that strengthen security, democratic resilience and resolve towards the fundamental EU values. Rising cyberattacks, corrosive capital and malign foreign influence through foreign investments, and weak rule of law expose the region as EU’s “soft underbelly.” 

At the same time, the EU’s regulatory tools such ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity) (ENISA, n.d.), the Foreign Direct Investment Screening Regulation (FDISR) (EUR-Lex, 2019a), and the EU Rule of Law Report (EURoLR), offer means for phased integration. By advancing operational integration in these frameworks, the EU and the WB6 can turn political momentum into measurable progress, leading to greater confidence in the promise of EU perspective. On their part, WB6 governments must move quickly on aligning legislation with relevant EU directives, adopting FDI screening legislation, and strengthening cybersecurity agencies and Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs). At the regional level, WB6 should establish for regional coordination on cybersecurity and FDI screening. While the EU can extend observer participation and technical assistance, link milestones to IPA III and the Reform and Growth Facility, and mainstream information-sharing. Tangible cooperation that reduces security risks at the EU’s perimeter, protects the Single Market from regulatory arbitrage, and demonstrates that enlargement is a strategic investment in stability.