The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, M.Sc. Josip Brkić, participated in the annual meeting of the High-Level Working Group on the Western Balkans, organized by the Aspen Institute, in Berlin on 22 and 23 June 2026.
As part of the meeting, Deputy Minister Brkić participated in a panel on the topic “The Western Balkans at the Crossroads: Geopolitics and Security”, which discussed current geopolitical challenges and security perspectives of the region.
In his address, Deputy Minister Brkić emphasized that the region is once again in a complex geopolitical environment marked by Russian aggression against Ukraine, growing hybrid threats, disinformation campaigns, cyber risks, and increasing competition among external actors. He emphasized that the strategic position of the Western Balkans remains on important transport, energy, and migration routes, which further confirms that the stability of the region is inseparable from the overall security of Europe. Speaking from the perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Deputy Minister Brkić emphasized that a stronger, more visible and more credible presence of the European Union in the Western Balkans is the most effective response to current challenges. He particularly emphasized that our country remains firmly committed to the European path and to an active contribution to European security. He recalled that Bosnia and Herzegovina achieved 100% alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union in 2025, while the same positive trend will continue in 2026. He also pointed out the importance of the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union and the EUFOR Althea Mission as one of the key pillars of stability and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Speaking about the European Union enlargement process, Deputy Minister Brkić emphasized that enlargement today represents not only a political project but also an important strategic security instrument. He assessed that a credible enlargement policy contributes to the strengthening of democratic institutions, reducing the space for malicious external influences, and the overall resilience of the region and Europe. In this context, he particularly emphasized the geopolitical importance of opening accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said that the further progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the European path and the opening of accession negotiations would send a strong message that the European Union remains committed to a united, safe and stable Europe, which would further strengthen confidence in the enlargement process, encourage democratic reforms and contribute to the long-term security and resilience of the Western Balkans.
The goal of the Working Group for the Western Balkans, which brings together representatives of the governments of the Western Balkan countries, the German Government and the Bundestag, officials of European Union institutions and international experts, is to make concrete recommendations and contributions in the preparation of the Conference on Security of the Western Balkans, which will be held this fall.
