Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and representatives of the Italian parliament emphasize that the stability of the Western Balkans is currently a vital interest for Rome. In the context of the war in Ukraine, Italy aims to accelerate the accession of Albania and Montenegro to the European Union and promotes the Corridor VIII project. This infrastructure, connecting the Adriatic to the Black Sea, is crucial not only for trade but also for the security of the entire NATO area.

Priority of Corridor VIII

The artery connecting the Adriatic to the Black Sea has become an economic and defense priority, supporting Italian exports and NATO logistics.

Accession to the European Union

Italy demands an acceleration of membership negotiations for Albania and Montenegro, recognizing this as key to stability following the invasion of Ukraine.

Hashim Thaçi Trial

The former President of Kosovo delivered his closing statement before the tribunal in The Hague, denying charges of war crimes from the 1990s.

Italian-German Diplomacy

Minister Antonio Tajani will participate in the CDU congress in Stuttgart, which is intended to confirm strong relations between Rome and Berlin.

The visit of the head of Italian diplomacy, Antonio Tajani, to Tirana and the statements of other Italian government representatives clearly indicate a shift in Rome's foreign policy priorities towards the Western Balkans. Italy is actively lobbying to accelerate the European Union enlargement process for countries like Albania and Montenegro. According to Italian authorities, Russian aggression against Ukraine has irreversibly disrupted the European balance, making the security of the continent's southeastern flank an existential issue. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the Western Balkans have remained an area with a complex ethnic and political structure, where European Union influence clashes with the ambitions of Russia and China.A key element of the new strategy is Corridor VIII. This is an ambitious infrastructure project intended to connect the Adriatic Sea with the Black Sea, passing through the territories of Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Minister Tajani emphasized that this investment is of fundamental importance for Italian exports, which recently recorded a growth of 3.3% year-on-year in this region. Furthermore, this infrastructure is seen as a strategic logistical backbone for NATO. A meeting of foreign ministers from countries involved in the project took place in Tirana, aimed at strengthening regional economic cooperation. „Corridor VIII is a political and economic priority for Italy and Europe: it will strengthen regional dialogue and serve as an additional platform for synergy.” — Antonio TajaniParallel to economic talks, a process casting a shadow over the region's history is underway in The Hague. The former President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, appeared before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, where he faced charges of war crimes. Thaçi, defending his innocence, argued that his actions during the 1998-1999 uprising were dictated by the defense of freedom and the dignity of the nation. The outcome of this trial, for which the judges retired for deliberation on February 18, will have significant implications for political stability in Pristina. 3.3% — growth recorded by Italian exports on an annual basis[{"dataISO": "2026-02-18", "data": "February 18, 2026", "wydarzenie": "Ministerial meeting in Tirana regarding Corridor VIII"}, {"dataISO": "2026-02-18", "data": "February 18, 2026", "wydarzenie": "Judges begin deliberations in the Hashim Thaçi trial"}, {"dataISO": "2026-02-22", "data": "Future Context", "wydarzenie": "Tajani's planned visit to Washington for the Board of Peace"}] Italy also plans to strengthen ties with Germany, as confirmed by Tajani, who announced his participation in the CDU congress in Stuttgart alongside Angela Merkel. This activity demonstrates an attempt to build a broader coalition for the stabilization of the Balkans and the integration of this region into Western structures in the face of growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Mentioned People

  • Antonio Tajani — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, promoting Corridor VIII and EU enlargement.
  • Hashim Thaçi — Former President of Kosovo and commander of the KLA, accused of war crimes before the tribunal in The Hague.
  • Tatjana Rojc — Secretary of the European Policy Commission in the Italian parliament.
  • Angela Merkel — Former Chancellor of Germany, whom Tajani is to meet during the CDU congress.