How can the EU maintain political momentum on enlargement while effectively supporting reforms in candidate countries on the ground? What strategies are needed to foster convergence between the EU and the Western Balkans, and to preserve the credibility of the accession process in the face of potential internal divisions among member states? To explore these pressing questions, the conference “Advancing EU Enlargement: Italy’s Role and Strategic Convergence on the Western Balkans’ Integration” took place in Rome on 15 April 2025.

The conference was organised for the thirhttps://staging7.balcanicaucaso.org/event/advancing-eu-enlargement-italys-role-and-strategic-convergence-on-the-western-balkans-integration/d consecutive year by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation. The conference has served as a platform for Western Balkans actors, European partners and the Italian stakeholders, to discuss various initiatives and to share updates on the European Union’s enlargement policy.