Italy supports Ukraine's EU bid, but Balkans remain top priority
Photo: Antonio Tajani (Getty Images)
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said, in his interview with Corriere della Sera, that Rome supports Ukraine’s accelerated accession to the European Union. However, other countries remain a higher priority.
According to Tajani, the Balkan countries should be the first to join the European Union.
“We support Ukraine’s accession, but the Balkans come first for us. We have commitments to them, and they are our priority,” the Italian foreign minister said.
He announced that a meeting of the “Friends of the Balkans” will take place in Rome on March 3, and a visit to Serbia is expected on April 1. Tajani stressed that assistance will be provided, including to Ukraine.
“On April 1, we will be in Belgrade with Germany’s minister Wadephul to express our concerns to Serbia. We will support Ukraine, which needs to achieve progress,” he concluded.
Ukraine’s EU accession in question
In December 2025, the Financial Times reported that Ukraine could join the European Union by January 1, 2027, provided a peace agreement is reached and the war ends. Sources said this was discussed during talks involving the United States and European countries.
About a week ago, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed that Ukraine’s EU membership by January 1, 2027, is part of a plan to end the war.
Ukrainian officials also confirmed that the US peace plan includes a 2027 EU accession date. However, there is a caveat: the provision is being revised due to objections from some EU member states.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently stated that Ukraine’s accession to the EU on January 1, 2027, is impossible. According to him, every country seeking to join the bloc must meet the Copenhagen criteria, a process that takes several years.
