CEE - Western Balkans Energy and Security Forum Held in Belgrade Serbia used a high-profile energy forum in Belgrade to cast itself as the lynchpin between the EU, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean, putting its courtship with Italy at the center of its security pitch.

Setting the stage in Belgrade

On May 22, the CEE – Western Balkans Energy, Infrastructure & Industrial Security Forum opened in Belgrade, drawing senior officials, business leaders and international organizations from across Europe. Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut framed the choice of host city as no accident, calling Belgrade “the geographical and political center of this part of Europe.”

From the outset, the agenda was tightly focused: energy connectivity, diversification of energy sources, and new infrastructure – “not only physical roads, but also roads that connect digital worlds, economies and people,” Macut said.

Government line: Serbia as Italy’s anchor in the Balkans

Macut hammered home a single message: “Serbia is a reliable and safe partner to Italy,” stressing that ties between the two countries are “traditional and long-standing.” Security, he argued, underpins everything – “supply chain security, energy security and digital security… the pillars on which today’s economy and the entire state rest,” with Italy promised “a reliable and safe partner in the Government of Serbia.”

He linked Belgrade’s ambitions to a wider Mediterranean and African arc, recalling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s emphasis on regional cooperation and the Mediterranean as the “first point of contact,” and voicing hope the forum would “kick-start discussion” given Italy’s strong ties to North Africa.

Partners’ view: strategic corridor, real money

Serbian business leaders backed the government narrative with concrete geography. The deputy head of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Mihailo Vesović, said Serbia advanced most on its EU path “when Italy was its partner,” and highlighted the Port of Trieste as the key route for goods and Serbia’s access to the EU market.

Italy’s ambassador to Serbia, Luca Gori, stressed that the two countries already run “many projects together” and predicted more, noting that “Serbia has entered a very important process of energy diversification,” creating new opportunities for Italian firms. Italian industrial representatives framed the long-standing partnership as the base for future deals, with energy singled out as the crucial regional field.

In Belgrade, at least, everyone agreed on the script: Italy gets a route and a partner; Serbia gets recognition as a regional hub.