Phd DonilaPipa, lecturer in the area of Eu law and Bussiness law in Albania.
I have completed my studies in Romania, bachelor s degree in law, master degree in “European studies and Interntional relation”and Phd with the topic “European Economic Integration”, 2010.
I have a experience as a lecturer since 2010, as a lecturer in various universities in Tirana, I have taught as a lecturer in program of bachelor degree, “Gender Equality, European Law, Business Law and master degree, Materia “European private Law, European social law, social right etc.
I participated as a legal expert, social media, at the NGO “Me Women in Pogradec, organizing reports, or giving interviews for local TV, participating also as an activist in the field, to learn about citizens problems.
Now i work as a specialist in the project sector in the Committee on National Minorities in Albania.
I have written different articles in this field as follows and part of editoral board;
I took part in various training, obtaining knowledge and relevant certificates in the field of European Union, human rights and anti-dicrimination.
NATO and European Union remain the two central pillars of European Union security in 2026.
Their relationship is characterized by deep institutional cooperation, growing convergence on defence planning, and renewed debate over European strategic autonomy. While NATO continues to provide the foundation for collective defense, and EU has expanded its role in defence industrial policy, crisis management, and capability development.
The partnership is increasingly defined by coordination in support for Ucraine, resilience agains hybrid threats, and efforts to strengthen defence production and interoperability across Europe.
Keywords: NATO, EU, strategic Convergence, 2026, Western Balkans, Albania
“We do not keep security establishments merely to defend property or territory or rights abroad or at sea. We keep the security forces to defend a way of life.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954
INTRODUCTION
The European Union (EU) is an essential partner for NATO. The two organisations share common values, strategic interests and a majority of member countries. They work side by side in crisis management, on capability development, in addressing hybrid threats and challenges posed by growing strategic competition, as well as in building the capacities of their common partners in the east and south.
Relations between NATO and the EU were institutionalised in the early 2000s, building on steps taken during the 1990s to promote greater European responsibility in defence matters (NATO-Western European Union cooperation
NATO and the EU play complementary, coherent and mutually reinforcing roles in supporting international peace and security.
The development of European defence capabilities is a key element of joint efforts to make the Euro-Atlantic area safer, and it contributes to transatlantic burden-sharing. In developing these capabilities, NATO Allies must ensure coherence and complementarity, and avoid unnecessary duplication.
Close cooperation between NATO and the EU is key to developing an international comprehensive approach to crisis management and operations, requiring the use of both military and civilian means.
NATO and the EU stand united in condemning Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-defence.
The 2022 Strategic Concept – the Alliance’s core policy document, which sets NATO’s strategic direction for the coming years – describes the European Union as a unique and essential partner for NATO and calls for an enhanced strategic partnership.
In January 2023, the NATO Secretary General and the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission signed the third Joint Declaration on EU-NATO Cooperation to further strengthen and expand the partnership between NATO and the EU. This declaration builds on the unprecedented progress in cooperation between the two organisations since previous declarations were signed in 2016 and 2018.
NATO and the EU currently have 23 members in common. For the development of the partnership between NATO and the EU, non-EU Allies’ fullest involvement in EU defence efforts is vital.[1]
Membership
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, alternatively known as NATO, is a military alliance between countries in North America and Europe. NATO was formed in the aftermath of World War II to preserve peace in Europe and protect democratic nations from potential attacks by the Soviet Union (which exists today as the Russian Federation). NATO’s website states that NATO’s founding treaty “commits the Allies to democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, as well as to peaceful resolution of disputes. Importantly, the treaty sets out the idea of collective defense, meaning that an attack against one Ally is considered an attack against all Allies.” As of March 2024, NATO has 32 members in total[2].
| NATO | YEAR JOINED NATO
|
| Sweden | 2024 |
| Finland | 2023 |
| North Macedonia | 2020 |
| Montenegro | 2017 |
| Croatia | 2009 |
| Albania | 2009 |
| Romania | 2004 |
| Bulgaria | 2004 |
| Slovakia | 2004 |
| Lithuania | 2004 |
| Slovenia | 2004 |
| Latvia | 2004 |
| Estonia | 2004 |
| Poland | 1999 |
| Czechia | 1999 |
| Hungary | 1999 |
| Spain | 1982 |
| Germany | 1955 |
| Turkey | 1952 |
| Greece | 1952 |
| United States | 1949 |
| United Kingdom | 1949 |
| France | 1949 |
| Italy | 1949 |
| Canada | 1949 |
| Netherlands | 1949 |
| Belgium | 1949 |
| Portugal
Denmark
|
1949
1949 |
| Norway | 1949 |
| Luxembourg | 1949 |
| Iceland | 1949 |
https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/organization/nato-member-countries
If you analize the table nr:1, we notice : 12 countries signed the North Altantic Treaty in 1949.
Since then, 20 more countries have joined NATO through 10 rounds of enlargement (in 1952, 1955, 1982, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2024).and Sweden in 2024.
The Washington Treaty – or North Atlantic Treaty – forms the basis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – or NATO.The Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. on 4 April 1949 by 12 founding members.The Treaty derives its authority from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which reaffirms the inherent right of independent states to individual or collective defence.
Collective defence is at the heart of the Treaty and is enshrined in Article 5. It commits members to protect each other and sets a spirit of solidarity within the Alliance.
The Treaty is short – containing only 14 articles – and provides for in-built flexibility on all fronts.
Despite the changing security environment, the original Treaty has never had to be modified and each Ally has the possibility to implement the text in accordance with its capabilities and circumstances.
On 4 April 1949, the Foreign Ministers from 12 countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) at the Departmental Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
NATO’s founding member countries were: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Within the five months following the signing ceremony, the Treaty was ratified by the parliaments of all 12 countries, sealing their membership.
On signing the Treaty, countries voluntarily commit themselves to participating in the political consultations and military activities of the Organization. Although each and every signatory to the North Atlantic Treaty is subject to the obligations of the Treaty, there remains a certain degree of flexibility, which allows members to choose how they participate. The memberships of Iceland and France, for instance, illustrate this point.
NATO and the EU have 23 members in common: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/partnerships-and-cooperation/relations-with-the-european-union
in 2026, the partnership is shaped by three majors drivers:
- Ongoing Russian aggression in Ucraine
- Increasing geopolitical competition ( including cyber and hybrid threats
- Pressure on Europe to expand its own defence capabilities and industrial base.
Both organizations increasingly focus on non-traditional secyrity threats:
- Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure
- Disinformation campaingns
- Energy and supply chain vulnerabilities
- Protection of transport and communication networks.
Nato and Eu established a joint resilience and critical infrastructure task-force, refleting growing concern about hybrid warfare.
Is Ukraine part of NATO?
Not yet, but it is in the process of joining. Ukraine joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and applied to join the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 2008. The 2010 presidential election of Viktor Yanukovych, who wanted to keep the country non-aligned, delayed Ukraine’s progress toward U.N. membership. However, after two important events in 2014—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and a national election—Ukraine’s new government renewed and prioritized efforts to join NATO. According to a 2017 poll, 69% of Ukrainians support joining NATO. Ukraine became a NATO aspiring member in 2018. On February 7, 2019, the Ukrainian parliament voted to change its constitution to affirm its intention to join NATO and the European Union.
Is Russia part of NATO?
No, Russia is not part of NATO. In fact, the Russian government’s perceived aggressiveness is the main issue NATO was founded to counteract. Despite this, Russia has historically at least given the appearance of cooperation with NATO. Russia and NATO established the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1991, and Russia joined the Partnership for Peace program in 1994. The establishment of the Russia-NATO Council to address security issues and collaborate on joint projects followed in 2002[3].
NATO suspended cooperation with Russia in 2014 following Russia’s invasion of Crimea, not including the NATO-Russia Council. Russia and NATO have held several meetings since 2017, and NATO states that an improvement in their relationship with Russia is dependent on Russia’s compliance with international law and their commitments. In October 2021, NATO expelled eight Russians from its Brussels, Belgium headquarters amid concerns that they were undeclared intelligence agents. Russia responded by suspending relations with NATO.
NATO supports Ukraine through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC), the Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP), the NATO Representation to Ukraine (NRU), and a number of other mechanisms including the NATO-Ukraine Council. In addition to EU financial support to Ukraine, the EU Military Assistance Mission has trained 90,000 Ukrainian soldiers, while the EU Advisory Mission supports Ukraine in civilian security sector reform.[4].
- NATO’s Role: The origins of Article 5
On 4 April 1949, 12 countries from Europe and North America came together in Washington, D.C. to sign the North Atlantic Treaty. NATO’s founding treaty is not long – only 14 articles, just over 1,000 words – and its core purpose is clear and simple: a joint pledge by each country to assist the others if they come under attack.
This was particularly urgent in the early days of the Cold War. The Soviet Union had drawn the Iron Curtain across Europe, dominating its neighbours in Central and Eastern Europe and threatening to extend its control further west – unless it met with concerted resistance.
The 12 founding NATO Allies, many of them still rebuilding their economies and militaries after the devastation of the Second World War, agreed that uniting their strength and committing to protect each other was key to deterring the Soviet threat. Article 5 of the Washington Treaty was the clearest articulation of that promise, and it has remained the bedrock of the transatlantic bond at the heart of NATO ever since.
The North Atlantic Treaty was drafted four years after the adoption of the United Nations Charter in 1945. The Treaty makes explicit reference to the Charter no less than five times throughout its short text, including in its first sentence. Article 5 specifically [5]notes that NATO Allies can take collective defence actions consistent with their rights under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognises that a state that sustains an armed attack has the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence, and may request others to come to its assistance. This right serves as a legal basis for taking internationally lawful military action in defence of the attacked.
This right to collective self-defence also permits states to conclude mutual defence arrangements on a bilateral or multilateral basis, in which they agree to come to each other’s assistance in case of a future armed attack. Such arrangements can exert an important deterrent effect against potential aggressors, as the example of NATO has illustrated for more than 75 years. While numerous mutual assistance obligations exist (for instance, the European Union and the Organization of American States also have collective defence treaty clauses), the degree of military coordination within NATO, and the Alliance’s collective military strength, render NATO’s Article 5 a uniquely powerful tool[6].
Article 5 states that if a NATO Ally sustains an armed attack, every other member of the Alliance will consider this as an armed attack against all members, and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the attacked Ally[7].
The 21st century has brought an unprecedented challenge for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Conflicts are shifting away from the traditional forms witnessed during the Second World War and the Cold War, with purely military aggression increasingly resembling a relic of the past. The traditional “instruments of power” – diplomatic, informational, military, and economic – have been expanded by the addition of more sophisticated tools such as financial, intelligence, and law enforcement capabilities, collectively referred to as DIME-FIL (Ti, 2021). Modern conflicts encompass a wide range of hybrid means, extending beyond conventional military activities[8].
- NATO has established a Special Coordinator for Hybrid Threats (2025) to unify its counter-hybrid strategy.
- Exercises like Nighthawk 21 tested NATO’s ability to respond to hybrid warfare scenarios with partners.
- NATO explicitly states that hybrid attacks could trigger Article 5 collective defense, underscoring their seriousness.
- EU’s Role
- The Council of the EU (March 2026) adopted conclusions reaffirming its determination to use all available tools (Hybrid Toolbox, Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox, restrictive measures)[9].
- Strong condemnation of Russia’s persistent hybrid campaigns, including disinformation, cyber sabotage, and election interference.
- EU emphasizes foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) as a core threat, alongside the instrumentalization of migration.
UNDERLINES the importance of ensuring coherence and further strengthening the mutually
beneficial cooperation in countering hybrid threats between the EU and NATO – recalling that
NATO remains the foundation of collective defence for its members. REAFFIRMS the
significance of the EU-NATO Parallel and Coordinated Exercises (PACE) framework in this
regard. EU-NATO cooperation will be taken forward within the framework of the three Joint
Declarations,13 in full respect of the agreed guiding principles of reciprocity, transparency,
inclusiveness and of both organisations’ decision-making autonomy and procedures.[10]
The Western Balkans
The EU and NATO have agreed on a concerted approach on security and stability in the Western Balkans. The EU and NATO partnership has been key to bringing an end to conflict and stabilising the region.In July 2003, the EU and NATO published a “Concerted Approach for the Western Balkans”[11].
Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management
The EU and NATO will continue to consult closely on the situation in the Western Balkans and, when crises develop, will work together to resolve the situation and restore stability. In those cases where crises continue, NATO and the EU will exchange relevant information and keep each other regularly informed at all levels, including with regard to possible military options, in accordance with the agreements reached between the two organisations.
Defence and Security Sector Reform
The EU’s work in this field, notably on police reform and governance issues, on one hand, and NATO’s work in this field, notably Partnership for Peace and Membership Action Plan activities, on the other, have already changed the security climate for the better and this work will continue to evolve. NATO and the EU will continue to work together in developing relevant new activities to meet the region’s needs.
Strengthening Rule of Law
Full co-operation with ICTY is also essential for the consolidation of well-functioning democratic institutions. Work on tackling organised crime is intensifying and commitments subscribed to in the framework of the Areas for Priority Action (APAs) outlined at the London Conference on Organised Crime need to be urgently implemented. Appropriate instruments must be in place to tackle crime and corruption at the very highest levels in society.
The Threat of Terrorism
Both NATO and the EU should help the countries of the region prevent any potential threat of terrorism in the region and enhance consultations on that matter. This will involve assisting the countries in developing appropriate legislation, combating the financing of terrorist organisations, and developing police capacity to deter and combat terrorism.
Border Security and Management
Our goal is to ensure secure borders to European Union standards and close co operation between border control police in the region, as well as with the military during the transitional period in specific parts of the region.
Arms Control and Removal of Small Arms
NATO and the EU will continue to consider mutually reinforcing measures and targeted programmes in this field, including by other international organisations.
Jointly drafted, it outlines core areas of cooperation and emphasises the common vision and determination both organisations share to bring stability to the region.
As a NATO member and EU candidate country, Albania benefits from NATO’s collective defense guarantees while aligning with EU resilience frameworks.
The region is particularly vulnerable to Russian disinformation and cyber campaigns, making NATO–EU cooperation crucial for stability.
The Western Balkans’ security environment remains fragile. Unresolved conflicts, organized crime, and political instability create vulnerabilities that can be exploited by external actors. NATO membership and cooperation serve as stabilizing mechanisms, reinforcing internal security and deterring external interference.
Enhanced NATO engagement, including joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and capacity building, strengthens regional resilience. Early and credible security guarantees incentivize political reform while demonstrating the West’s commitment to the region.
A coherent strategy to counter external influence is essential. Russia and China employ economic, political, and informational tools to weaken Euro-Atlantic alignment. The EU and NATO must coordinate diplomatic, economic, and security measures to safeguard strategic interests and reinforce the legitimacy of integration processes.
The Western Balkans lacks unified military structures; only Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are NATO members. Serbia maintains a relatively capable armed force but is militarily aligned with neither NATO nor the EU[12].
- ALBANIA AS A CONVERGENCE “ TEST CASE:
In 2026, Albania plays a dual role as a NATO ally and EU partner: NATO has designated Albania’s Corridor 8 as critical military infrastructure, making the country a strategic hub for Euro-Atlantic defense, while the EU has invested €49 million through the European Peace Facility to modernize Albania’s armed forces. Together, NATO and the EU are strengthening Albania’s resilience against hybrid threats and enhancing its role in regional stability.
The EU provides resources to modernize Albania’s forces, while NATO integrates Albania into its strategic infrastructure, ensuring the country’s central role in countering hybrid threats and safeguarding Balkan stability.
Albania demonstrates how NATO and EU policies now cooperate in a single strategic ecosystem.
In 2026, the EU has significantly increased defense cooperation with Albania through:
21 MILION under the European Peace Facility; total EPF support reaching 49 million deliveries of military vehicles and capability support. The assistance measure will also enhance Albania’s potential to contribute to the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) operations and missions and international coalitions.[13]. Albania is no longer only an “accession candidate”, but also a security capability contributor to EU operations. The decision complements the support already provided by the EU and aims to further strengthen the ability of the Albanian Armed Forces to deploy timely and effectively. The assistance measure will also enhance Albania’s potential to contribute to the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) operations and missions and international coalitions[14].
Albania as a convergence “teste case”, in domain of security& defense, deterrence, interoperability for NATO role and shared capability development for convergence effect, hybrid threats: NATO role for intelligence sharing, and EU role for cyber& resilience programs, for the convergence effect are joint resilience architecture
– NATO ensures hard guarantees
– EU provides institutional transformation and funding IPA 3. Both coordinate on regional stabilization objectives. This creates de facto integrated Euro-Atlantic governance model in the Western Balkan ‘for military modernization, standards and training, and for EU role, funding, procurement support, both complementary force building.
NATO ally undergoing EU accession while simultaneously receiving EU defense assistance and participating in shared security objectives.
CONCLUSION
The Western Balkans remain a critical region for Euro-Atlantic security. Albania, as both a NATO ally and EU candidate, exemplifies the strategic convergence between the two organizations in countering hybrid threats. Its dual alignment provides a unique laboratory for testing how military deterrence and civilian resilience can be integrated.
By 2026, NATO and the EU have moved beyond parallel efforts to true strategic convergence, creating a layered defense that integrates military deterrence with civilian resilience. This partnership is now the backbone of Europe’s response to hybrid threats, ensuring that cyberattacks, disinformation, and sabotage are met with unified transatlantic strength.
Albania has fully aligned with EU foreign and security policy, reinforcing its accession trajectory toward EU membership by 2030.
The Albanian case shows that the Western Balkans are becoming a shared strategic space where NATO PROVIDE SECURITY guarantees and the EU provides political integration and capability development.
Albania in 2026 illustrates strategic convergence between NATO and the EU: NATO ensures military readiness, while the EU provides financial, industrial, and civilian resilience tools. As a NATO ally and EU candidate, Albania embodies how hybrid threats can be countered through dual alignment. Its experience underscores that Western Balkan stability is inseparable from transatlantic security, making Albania a model for future NATO–EU cooperation.
REFERENCE
- Relations with the European Union (2025) ;
https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/partnerships-and-cooperation/relations-with-the-european-union
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Countries, 2026;
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/nato-countries
- World Population Review (2026)North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Countries;
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/nato-countries
NATO and the European Union call for more sustained, coordinated support to Ukraine at joint meeting;
The North Atlantic Treaty ( 1949);
Collective defense and Article 5 (2025);
https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/collective-defence-and-article-5
Sage Journal (2025) Countering hybrid threats: How NATO must adapt (again) after the war in Ukraine, Davide Genini, Volume 33, Issue 2;
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2336825X251322719#bibr134-2336825X251322719
Council adopts conclusions on advancing the EU’s capacity to counter hybrid threats (2026) ;
- Council of the European Union ( 2026) COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS on advancing the European Union’s capacity to counter hybrid threats;
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-7349-2026-INIT/en/pdf
EU and NATO agree concerted approach for the Western Balkans(2023);
- Reintegrating the Western Balkans: Strategic Imperatives for EU and NATO (2025), Global Policy, Eduard Vasilj – 05 September 2025;
- Council of the EU, 22 May 2026 , European Peace Facility: Council adopts the third bilateral assistance measure in support of the Albanian Armed Forces;
- Council of the Eu ( 2026) , PRESS RELEASE 395/26 22/05/2026, European Peace Facility: Council adopts the third bilateral assistance measure in support of the Albanian Armed Force;
[1]Relations with the European Union (2025)
https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/partnerships-and-cooperation/relations-with-the-european-union
[2]North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Countries 2026
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/nato-countries
[3] World Population Review,(2026)North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Countries
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/nato-countries
[4]NATO and the European Union call for more sustained, coordinated support to Ukraine at joint meeting https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2026/04/23/nato-and-the-european-union-call-for-more-sustained-coordinated-support-to-ukraine-at-joint-meeting
[5]The North Atlantic Treaty ( 1949)
[6]Collective defense and Article 5 (2025)
https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/collective-defence-and-article-5
[7] Article 5: The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.”
[8] Sage Journal (2025) Countering hybrid threats: How NATO must adapt (again) after the war in Ukraine, Davide Genini, Volume 33, Issue 2
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2336825X251322719#bibr134-2336825X251322719
[9] Council adopts conclusions on advancing the EU’s capacity to counter hybrid threats (2026) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/16/council-adopts-conclusions-on-advancing-the-eu-s-capacity-to-counter-hybrid-threats/
[10]Council of the European Union ( 2026) COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS on advancing the European Union’s capacity tocounter hybrid threats
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-7349-2026-INIT/en/pdf
[11]EU and NATO agree concerted approach for the Western Balkans(2023)
[12]Reintegrating the Western Balkans: Strategic Imperatives for EU and NATO(2025), Global Policy, Eduard Vasilj – 05 September 2025
[13]Council of the EU, 22 May 2026 , European Peace Facility: Council adopts the third bilateral assistance measure in support of the Albanian Armed Forces
[14]Council of the Eu ( 2026) , PRESS RELEASE 395/26 22/05/2026, European Peace Facility: Council adopts the third bilateral assistance measure in support of the Albanian Armed Force