Italy aims to position itself as a leading force in European Union integration, urging the accession of Western Balkan countries before 2030, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday during a high-level conference marking the 70th anniversary of the historic Messina Conference.
Gathering in the Sicilian cities of Taormina and Messina, representatives from the EU’s 27 member states, European institutions, and candidate and potential candidate countries reaffirmed their commitment to enlargement and unity, as Italy reasserted its role in driving the bloc’s expansion.
“This is a strong message to all candidate countries,” Tajani told reporters, underscoring Rome’s strategic push to accelerate the EU’s enlargement. “Accelerating the reunification process is a priority for Italy.”
Tajani named Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Kosovo as the primary beneficiaries of this renewed commitment, alongside Ukraine and Moldova, who were also invited to the event as a signal of political support.
Referencing former European Council President Charles Michel’s previous suggestion of a 2030 target for enlargement, Tajani said Italy would like to bring that date forward for the Western Balkans. “Then we can speak about Ukraine and Moldova. It is right that they become part of our Union,” he added.
Tajani praised Albania and Montenegro for what he described as “very important steps forward,” emphasizing that the Western Balkan states have made a clear political choice toward EU membership. “They must be supported, and Italy will do everything in its power to help them,” he said.
The conference also provided a platform to discuss broader geopolitical issues, including rising tensions in the Middle East amid the ongoing escalation between Iran and Israel.
Tajani confirmed that Italian ambassadors would remain in their posts in Tehran and Tel Aviv to support nationals, and that charter flights were being organized to assist Italians wishing to leave Israel. “These are not evacuations, but assistance and coordination operations,” he clarified.
The Italian minister dismissed reports of immediate threats to Italian forces deployed in the region and said there was no confirmation that U.S. military bases in Italy would be involved in any potential operations, despite speculation reported by the London-based broadcaster Iran International.
The Messina-Taormina event, held in the symbolic birthplace of Europe’s post-war integration project, served as both a celebration and a policy reset. Italy used the moment to call for a broader, more cohesive Europe and to support diplomatic engagement in global crises.
The event concluded with the adoption of the Messina and Taormina Declaration, which underlined that the EU’s internal reform process must proceed “separately but in parallel” with enlargement.
The declaration framed enlargement as a “geopolitical necessity” and a “strategic investment” in peace, security and prosperity for the continent, based on merit and guided by the principles of solidarity, mutual trust and transparent cooperation.