The EU must link enlargement to raw materials strategy

Dr. Ioannis Armakolas (Head, South-East Europe Programme – ELIAMEP & Director, think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration) and Dr. Ana Krstinovska (Research Fellow, South- East Europe Programme – ELIAMEP & Senior Researcher, think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration) co-authored the op-ed titled “The EU must link enlargement to raw materials strategy” on the The Parliament. The op-ed is based on the latest think nea report “Raw Materials for a Resilient Europe: The EU’s Strategic Partnership with the Western Balkans” which was produced in the framework of ELIAMEP’s initiative think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration, which is supported by OSF – WB.

The authors argue that the EU can no longer treat enlargement and raw materials policy as separate agendas, noting that the Western Balkans hold significant potential to strengthen Europe’s green transition and industrial resilience — but only if cooperation moves beyond extractive partnerships toward value-chain integration, public trust, and fair local gains. Drawing on think nea’s recent research, they highlight how fragmented supply chains, governance weaknesses, and local opposition have hindered sustainable projects, while stressing that responsible investment, transparent oversight, and rule-of-law progress are essential for any credible raw-materials strategy. They contend that aligning enlargement with raw-materials policy would benefit both sides: the EU would enhance its strategic autonomy, and the Western Balkans would gain opportunities for industrial upgrading, skilled employment, and deeper integration into European markets.

You can read the article here.