The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Maria Tripodi, sent a message to the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Ancona Declaration.
“Italy is proud to have supported this initiative since its inception,” she stated, “as it promotes cooperation among the countries bordering the Adriatic and Ionian seas. We look forward with great enthusiasm and renewed confidence to assuming the AII Presidency in May 2026”.
“For the Italian Government, the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union remains a genuine strategic priority. Organisations such as the AII, which promote European values and standards, play a vital role in this process”. “As Minister Antonio Tajani has repeatedly emphasised, supporting the EU enlargement to these countries is not only an opportunity for peace, security, and economic growth, but also represents for Italy a historic responsibility, guided by a clear and coherent geopolitical vision,” the Undersecretary concluded.