PRESS ACCREDITATION NOTE
MINISTERIAL MEETING ON THE WESTERN BALKANS
Villa Madama – 10 February 2025
On Monday, 10 February 2025, Villa Madama will host the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkans and the “Friends of the Western Balkans” Group, chaired by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani. The meeting will also be attended by HR/VP Kaja Kallas and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos.
The agenda is as follows:
12:30 p.m. – Press briefing by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister.
1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Working session on “Preserving common security: enhancing cooperation with the Western Balkans” (closed to the press)
3:30 p.m. – Family photo (open to interested photo/video operators)
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Working session on “Accelerating the European integration of the Western Balkans: common priorities for the future” (closed to the press)
The ministerial meeting – attended by the Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) and the countries of the “Friends of the Western Balkans” Group (Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Greece, and Slovenia) – aims to strengthen coordination on 2025 objectives and priorities regarding EU-Balkans cooperation, European integration, security, and regional development.
Established in June 2023, the “Friends of the Western Balkans” Group seeks to keep EU attention focused on the region and promote an accelerated integration process.
Journalists, photographers and cameramen interested in attending the event can apply for accreditation by sending a request by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 7 February, by e-mail to accreditamentostampa@esteri.it (tel. 06 3691 8210 – 3432 – 3078 or 8573), as follows:
For representatives of foreign press already accredited at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the request must be sent with a copy of an identity document attached.
For representatives of the Italian press organisations:
- a copy of the identity document.
- a letter of assignment from the newspaper of affiliation or – in the absence of the latter -, a copy of professional identity card.
For representatives of foreign press organisations not accredited at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- a copy of the identity document;
- letter from the newspaper of affiliation;
- Verbal note of the Embassy in Rome of the country of the press organisation represented.
Badges must be collected in person at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, central entrance, left side, between 11:15 a.m. and approximately 11:45 a.m.
As it is not possible to reach Villa Madama with private vehicles, accredited journalists will be transported to Villa Madama via a shuttle service operating from the central entrance of the Farnesina (round trip), available until the conclusion of the event.
Submitting the above-mentioned personal data means authorising the use thereof in accordance with Italian Legislative Decree no. 196 of 30 June 2003 and the GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679) by the Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the data controller, for strictly professional purposes and/or purposes related to the performance of the event in question.
