CIVIL SMART DEFENSE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: TOWARD A REGIONAL MODEL OF DISASTER RESILIENCE
CIVIL SMART DEFENSE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: TOWARD A REGIONAL MODEL OF DISASTER RESILIENCE

Summary/Abstract: The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters in the Western Balkans — including the 2014 floods, the devastating 2019 earthquake in Albania, and the post-2021 wildfire seasons across the Adriatic — have simultaneously revealed growing response capacities and persistent structural gaps in cross-border disaster governance. While regional solidarity has strengthened and emergency support has been mobilized in several critical events, crisis management remains highly reliant on ad-hoc coordination, asymmetric institutional capacities, and external support from EU and NATO civil protection mechanisms. This study advances the concept of a Regional Civil Smart Defense Model for disaster resilience, grounded in shared operational capacities, integrated training systems, interoperable early-warning mechanisms, and depoliticized cross-border cooperation. Methodologically, the research employs comparative case analysis, institutional documentation, and data from regional and international emergency structures. Findings reveal a clear increase in mutual assistance — such as the deployment of over 30 international teams to Albania in 2019 and large-scale mobilization during the 2014 floods — yet highlight persistent deficits in interoperability, standardized procedures, and harmonized digital infrastructure. The study’s main contribution is the conceptualization of regional resilience through a civil Smart Defense lens, where civil protection and security instruments converge to enhance mutual trust, reduce vulnerability, and accelerate Euro-Atlantic integration. It concludes with policy recommendations such as the establishing a Regional Joint Crisis Hub, a shared aerial firefighting fleet, a regional risk data platform, and a Regional Academy for Resilience and Civil Security, positioning the Western Balkans as a pilot region for integrated EU–NATO disaster governance

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