On 10 February, at Villa Madama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, will chair the Ministerial Meeting with the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) and with the “Friends of the Western Balkans” group (Italy, Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia).
The Meeting will also be attended by the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, with whom Minister Tajani will have bilateral meetings to step up the EU agenda in the Balkan integration process, taking advantage of the window of opportunity provided by the start of the new European legislature.
The Meeting aims to strengthen coordination on the objectives and priorities to be pursued in 2025 in terms of cooperation with the Western Balkans in order to promote the security of the region and the stepping up of the EU integration process.
Minister Tajani said: “Stability of the Western Balkans is a priority of the Italian government’. He emphasised its close connection with the security of the entire continent. Italy is at the forefront in ensuring the stability of the region through its participation in the KFOR, EULEX and EUFOR Althea missions. The Ministerial Meeting will discuss how to develop a more structured cooperation between the EU and regional partners in the field of security, also in view of facilitating regional reconciliation paths. Among others, the Head of Mission of EULEX Kosovo, General Giovanni Barbano, the EIB Vice President, Gelsomina Vigliotti, and the CEI Secretary General, Franco Dal Mas, will take part in the proceedings.
