As relatively small buyers, Western Balkan countries stand to benefit disproportionately from EU joint procurement mechanisms that improve price and delivery terms through economies of scale. Technical arrangements with the European Defence Agency(EDA) can also offer access to cooperative projects and expertise; Serbia already has such an arrangement, and others could explore similar frameworks to align capability planning and innovation with EU priorities. 2. Support to Ukraine The region’s overall political stance has been to condemn Russia’s 2022 invasion and to back Ukraine’s sovereignty. In practical terms, several Western Balkan countries have provided meaningful support—military, humanitarian, financial and diplomatic. Because of domestic sensitivities, not all assistance has been publicised in real time. Military Support to Ukraine(Western Balkans) Country North Macedonia Albania Montenegro Kosovo Serbia Bosnia and Herzegovina Contribution Transferred legacy Soviet-origin equipment usable immediately by Ukrainian forces: T-72 tanks, Mi-24 helicopters, Su-25 aircraft, plus associated munitions and spares. Donated MRAP vehicles, small arms, and mortar ammunition of various calibres(documented in theatre); total aid estimated in the tens of millions of euros. Contributed naval and artillery munitions. Supplied vehicles and ammunition packages and hosted training, despite the absence of formal bilateral recognition by Ukraine. Officially avoided direct military aid but provided budgetary and humanitarian support; widely reported to have supplied large quantities of ammunition via third parties, amounting to EUR 800 million by end-2024. Its defense industry appears to have channelled significant volumes of ammunition to Ukraine through intermediaries. North Macedonia transferred legacy Soviet‑origin equipment that Ukrainian forces could immediately field—T‑72 tanks, Mi‑24 helicopters and Su‑25 aircraft, along with associated munitions and spares. Albania donated MRAP vehicles and various calibres of small arms and mortar ammunition that have been documented in theatre, with total military aid estimated in the tens of millions of euros. Montenegro contributed naval and artillery munitions, while Kosovo supplied vehicles and ammunition packages and hosted training, even without formal bilateral recognition by Ukraine. Serbia, while publicly avoiding direct military aid, provided budgetary and humanitarian support and is widely reported to have supplied large quantities of ammunition via third parties, amounting to 800 million EUR at the end of 2024. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s industry likewise appears to have channelled significant volumes to Ukraine through intermediaries. The bottom line: the Western Balkans have delivered niche but non‑trivial support streams to Kyiv—especially valuable during the early phase of the war when Soviet‑standard systems and ammunition were at a premium—and have contributed to training efforts as well. 3. Participation in CSDP, NATO and UN operations Despite country size and small force structures, Western Balkan contributors routinely field targeted deployments to EU missions—trainers, medics, staff officers and observers. Albania and Montenegro supported EU training efforts in Mali; Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia contributed to missions in the Central African Republic; Montenegro and Serbia added staff and naval personnel to Operation Atalanta; and Albania and North Macedonia are steady supporters of EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO commitments include historical participation in ISAF and Resolute Support in Afghanistan, the KFOR mission in Kosovo, and present‑day deployments to Enhanced Forward Presence and Enhanced Vigilance Activities on the Alliance’s eastern flank. Bosnia and Herzegovina has NATO‑graded units earmarked for multinational operations, although internal political blockages have at times hindered decision‑making on deployments. Under the UN flag, the region’s footprint is notable relative to size. Serbia, in particular, ranks among Europe’s most active contributors with personnel in UNIFIL and other missions, while Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia have provided observers, police and medical units across multiple theatres. 3