In this chapter, Italian foreign affairs minister Antonio Tajani examines Forza Italia’s entry into the European People’s Party (EPP), tracing the party’s emergence in the context of post–Cold War political upheaval. Founded in 1994 by Silvio Berlusconi amid the collapse of Italy’s Democrazia Cristiana party, Forza Italia quickly established itself as the new anchor for moderate voters. Tajani recounts how the party’s strong performance in the 1994 European elections marked the beginning of its engagement with the European centre–right, first through the formation of the Forza Europa group and later as part of the Union for Europe. As the EPP debated whether to remain a Christian Democratic bloc or to broaden its ideological base, figures such as Helmut Kohl advocated for expansion, paving the way for Forza Italia’s accession. Despite internal resistance and political tensions, a compromise was reached in 1998. Tajani provides a behind-the-scenes account of this turning point and argues that Forza Italia’s inclusion helped rebalance the EPP’s political geography, reinforcing its role as the dominant force in EU politics.