SHOTLIST: - ZAGREB, CROATIA (JULY 7, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. ITALIAN AND CROATIAN PRESIDENTS HOLDING JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE 2. ITALIAN PRESIDENT SERGIO MATTARELLA ADDRESSING PRESS MEMBERS 3. CROATIAN PRESIDENT ZORAN MILANOVIC ADDRESSING PRESS MEMBERSZAGREB, CROATIA - JULY 7: Italian President Sergio Mattarella expressed support for the European Union's enlargement process in the Western Balkans during his official visit to Zagreb, emphasizing the need for its completion without further delays. During meetings with his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanovic, Mattarella highlighted that the EU has consistently worked to uphold peace across the continent. He said the EU has always prioritized security through cooperation and presented an example to other nations and the international community. Mattarella emphasized the strong and deep relationship between Italy and Croatia, noting that both countries are moving forward toward shared goals. He stressed the importance of solidarity in ensuring peace, particularly during a time when the world is witnessing difficult and devastating conflicts. According to him, this makes their cooperation even more valuable, though he also acknowledged the need for new forms of collaboration moving forward. He also stated that Italy and Croatia have maintained cooperation in various sectors and underlined that both countries have agreed for more than 20 years on the urgency of concluding the EU accession process of the Western Balkans. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic remarked that the EU is considered a peace project but noted that this is no longer the case in the same way today. He acknowledged the presence of uncertainties but said the EU had proven beneficial for Croatia and Italy in terms of daily life, neighborhood relations, and cooperation.