Benjamin Haddad exposes France’s diplomatic vision concerning the enlargement of the European Union, seen as a strategic necessity to ensure the geopolitical stability of the continent. He emphasizes that the integration of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova is a security imperative in the face of external threats and foreign interference. While reaffirming this support, Benjamin Haddad insists on the strict respect of accession criteria, especially in terms of rule of law and economic reforms, and also proposes innovative reflection paths, such as creating an associated member state status to facilitate progressive integration.
Finally, he calls for strengthening European cohesion and deepening cultural and historical ties with candidate countries to consolidate the unity of the European project. The war waged by Russia against Ukraine has put the enlargement of the European Union back at the center of European strategic debates. In this context, the Western Balkans regain increased visibility in discussions on the continent’s security, even as the international environment is characterized by a proliferation of instability factors.
Attempts at destabilization attributed to Russia, China’s increasing use of economic instruments for influence, and a perceived more transactional, invisible, and sometimes disruptive positioning of the United States contribute to complicating European choices. Faced with these developments, the French position seems to be evolving towards a more strategic approach to enlargement, not only as a political integration project, but as a possible 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 avoided from taking precedence over the requirements of internal coherence and sustainability of the European project?
Context: The article discusses France’s diplomatic stance on the enlargement of the European Union in the face of geopolitical challenges, including threats and influences from external actors. Fact Check: The conference mentioned in the article, titled “The Enlargement of the European Union: a strategic choice? France, the Western Balkans, and the EU in an uncertain geopolitical context,” was organized by Ifri and the Franco-Austrian Center for European rapprochement on March 24, 2026.
