It 
En 
Rome, 20 October 2026
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Aldo Moro room
Piazzale della Farnesina
10:00 - 13:15
As EU enlargement regains momentum, the fourth edition of the New Visions for the Western Balkans conference will focus on two key priorities for advancing the Western Balkans’ integration into the European Union: communicating the benefits of enlargement and strengthening regional connectivity. The event will bring together representatives of European and national institutions, experts and civil society to discuss how to build stronger public support for enlargement and accelerate economic integration through infrastructure investments, regulatory convergence and regional cooperation. Particular attention will be paid to the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and opportunities to deliver tangible benefits of European integration ahead of full membership.
9:30-10:00 Registration of Participants
10:00-10:30 Welcome Remarks
Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy
Michele Valensise, President, Istituto Affari Internazionali
10:30-11:30 Session I – Communicating the Benefits of Enlargement
This panel will explore how to more effectively communicate the economic, political and social benefits of EU enlargement to different audiences, both within the European Union and in candidate countries. While enlargement has regained political momentum, public perceptions often remain fragmented and, at times, sceptical. Strengthening communication is therefore essential to build trust, counter misinformation and ensure sustained political support. The discussion will examine the role of institutions, policymakers, experts and civil society in shaping credible and evidence-based narratives around enlargement. It will also address key challenges, including how to better explain the concrete benefits of gradual integration, how to tailor messages to different national contexts, and how to bridge the gap between technical policy processes and public understanding.
Panelists
Valentina Superti, Director Western Balkans, DG ENEST, European Commission
Alfredo Durante Mangoni, Italian National Coordinator for the Central European Initiative, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy
Ulrike Hartmann, Director of the Department for Southeast Europe and EU Enlargement, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria
Una Hajdari, Journalist, Politico, Brussels
Engjellushe Morina, Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations
Moderator
Luisa Chiodi, Director, Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
11:30-12:00 Coffee Break
12:00-13:00 Session II – Accelerating Connectivity to Support Integration
This panel will focus on connectivity as a driver of integration between the EU and the Western Balkans, addressing both its investment and regulatory dimensions. It will explore how strengthening transport, energy and digital networks—also through the contribution of regional frameworks such as the EUSAIR and the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, especially in light of Italy’s Presidency—can support economic convergence and gradual integration into the EU single market. It will also consider how instruments such as the Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs) can be further developed to support regulatory alignment, also drawing on the experience of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs).
Panelists
Thomas Botzios, Director for the Adriatic and the Western Balkans, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Pranvera Kastrati, Director of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) Secretariat
Nenad Đurđević, Advisor to the President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia
Krisela Hackaj, Executive Director, Cooperation and Development Institute
Moderator
Matteo Bonomi, Head of Europe Programme, Istituto Affari Internazionali
13:00-13:15 Concluding Remarks
Nicola Verola, Director General for Europe and International Trade Policy, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
13:15-14:00 Light Lunch
