Tajani presents in Rome the plan for the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU: the solution for a faster and more strategic accession

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani has presented a national proposal to accelerate the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the European Union. During the ministerial meeting in Rome, the proposal focused on gradual integration, simplification of the process and strategic communication to foster stability and growth in the region.

On the occasion of Ministerial meeting with the Western Balkan countries and the Group “Friends of the Western Balkans” hosted yesterday, Monday 10 February in Rome, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, presented a national position paper containing some concrete proposals to accelerate the accession of candidate countries to the EU, including those in the Western Balkans.

The Italian proposal focuses on three fundamental elements: gradual integration (starting from key sectors such as cyber-security, strengthening of Public Administration, migration management and cooperation between businesses); simplification of the process, in order to avoid cross-blocks and vetoes especially on technical passages; strategic communication, to enhance the benefits of integration for the population.

 The proposal was illustrated by Tajani to Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and to Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement., with whom the Minister had bilateral meetings, and to the participants in the meeting: AAlbania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Austria, Croatia, Greece, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The priority given to the stability of the Balkan region and to the acceleration of the EU integration process of these countries was also highlighted in the Presidency Conclusions adopted at the end of the ministerial meeting.