The European Union and its enlargement partners are joining forces to strengthen democratic institutions, protect electoral processes and respond to emerging threats to democracy across Europe.
On 13 October 2026, during the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg, all six Western Balkan partners — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia — joined Moldova and Ukraine in becoming associated with the European Centre for Democratic Resilience.
The initiative brings together EU Member States and enlargement partners to strengthen cooperation on electoral integrity, countering disinformation and foreign interference, protecting democratic institutions and supporting journalists and civil society organisations.
For the Western Balkans, the cooperation provides a shared framework through which all six partners can exchange expertise, develop common approaches and strengthen their capacity to address democratic challenges.
Practical activities will include crisis-management exercises, exchanges of methodologies, work on measuring democratic resilience and training focused on protecting journalists and civil society.
The Centre, established in February 2026 as part of the EU’s European Democracy Shield, aims to strengthen democratic resilience through closer cooperation between European institutions, Member States and civil society.
For more information, read the European Commission’s official announcement.
