The Danube as a Strategic Corridor for EU Enlargement

The Danube as a Strategic Corridor for EU Enlargement

In his article for the latest edition of European Voices, IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer examines the Danube – not just as a river but as a dynamic strategic corridor, its twists and turns meandering through EU member and candidate states alike. He argues that in countering Russia, the Danube should serve as an artery for strengthening EU enlargement, especially with respect to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and more broadly for projecting Europe’s geopolitical resilience.
This piece underscores how the Danube can become both a connective infrastructure and a symbolic backbone of integration – tying together political, economic, and security dimensions across borders. Schäffer highlights the river’s potential to support infrastructure, transport, cooperation, and shared responsibility, all of which are essential if enlargement is to be more than a slogan.
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🔗 In Countering Russia, the Danube Is a Strategic Corridor for EU Enlargement