The ministerial meeting of the ‘Friends of the Western Balkans’ group and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Balkan countries, chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, is taking place this morning at Villa Madama. The group comprises seven EU Member States (Italy, Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia) which are working together to support the accession of the six Balkan countries that are applicant or potential applicant countries for EU membership: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Hungary was also invited for the first time, in recognition of its commitment to supporting the integration of the Western Balkans.
Two months after the previous ministerial meeting, held in Bratislava, the Rome meeting aims to give fresh impetus to the process of European Union enlargement to include the Western Balkans and to strengthen the region’s contribution to European strategic autonomy.
The discussions will focus, in particular, on food security, the resilience of supply chains and the enhancement of connectivity.
The following will also take part in the proceedings: the FAO’s Deputy Director-General, Maurizio Martina; the European Coordinator of the Western Balkans–Eastern Mediterranean Transport Corridor, Marian-Jean Marinescu; and the InCE Secretary-General, Franco Dal Mas.
