Advancing EU Enlargement: Italy’s Role and Strategic Convergence on the Western Balkans’ Integration

The integration of the Western Balkans returned to the EU agenda as a geostrategic priority in light of the disruptive dynamics triggered by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, the European Council has provided new impetus and made important decisions in advancing accession negotiations with EU candidate countries, while the European Commission has sought to capitalize on the pro-enlargement momentum through the New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Yet, significant challenges remain, from difficulties in implementing domestic reforms and resolving bilateral disputes to the risk of new divisions among member states and the destabilizing influence of third-party actors.

Against this backdrop, the conference serves as an opportunity to discuss several aspects of current EU-Western Balkans cooperation. The first panel will discuss new integration dynamics in the region, addressing the advancement of regional cooperation and economic resilience, as well as the ambitions of some Western Balkan countries to conclude accession negotiations within the 2024-2029 EU institutional cycle and the opportunities for fast-track economic integration under the Growth Plan. The second panel will examine how the EU is shaping its next enlargement, balancing institutional adaptation with the geopolitical necessity of integration. Particular attention will be given to Italy’s role in advocating a more structured and gradual approach, the management of common resources, and the challenges linked to negotiating the next EU multiannual budget to support candidate countries.

The conference is organized by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), in cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the support of Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo.