“We are here in Thessaloniki with the Greek Presidency to say that the Italian Presidency will take up the baton and work to ensure that the Western Balkans can make rapid and concrete progress on the road to European integration. It is one of our precise interests for the stability, peace and economic development of the region. For Italy, this is clear but for other European countries it may be less so. We will use our semester in the Presidency to make it a priority for the entire EU”.
These were the words of Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, speaking in the margins of the EU-Balkans Ministerial in Thessaloniki. “Exactly 10 years on from the EU’s transition from 15 to 25 member states, and exactly 11 years since, here in Thessaloniki, the Balkans were offered the prospect of European integration”.
Visits to Balkans capitals in early days of Italian Presidency
“In the first 2 months of my mandate”, commented Minister Mogherini, “I met all the foreign ministers of the western Balkan countries, who are also here today. And in the first few weeks of our Presidency in July I will be visiting all the capitals of the region to give them a concrete sign of our commitment. A commitment that by then will be not just Italy’s but the entire European Union’s”.
