“I think we have a big responsibility with the countries of the Western Balkans, especially after the Russian attack on Ukraine. We need to strengthen the process of continuing the accession of the countries to the European Union. There are many issues that we need to do. Italy is fully committed to work together, from the economy to cyber security. We will do our best on roaming and other things that are discussed. You can count on Italy”. This was stated by Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, who arrived at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana.

A family photo with Prime Minister Georgia Meloni interacting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the EU-Balkans Summit Before sitting on stage with other leaders. Walking the red carpet, Meloni and Orbán spoke for a few minutes, while behind them, a few steps away, French President Emmanuel Macron stepped forward with two other leaders, including Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger. Meloni took her place in the photo lineup, in the third row between Vjosa Usmani-Sadriu, the president of Kosovo, and Robert Golob, the prime minister of Slovenia. Before the shot, Meloni shook hands with Finnish Premier Sanna Marin, standing in front of her. After the family photo, the leaders watched traditional dances performed by a group of young dancers dressed in blue overalls that resembled the flag of Europe and twelve stars, and another musical dance program to the beat of hip hop. Back at the summit, Meloni walked the red carpet with Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu and spoke with Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela.

The Western Balkans “must decide which side to be on: on the side of democracy, this is the EU, friend, partner. Or if they want to take another path”. said the president of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, when he arrived at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana, he invited the region’s six countries to take a stand against authoritarian states like Russia and China. “Russia and China are trying to exert influence in the region, but the EU is the biggest investor and the closest partner to the Western Balkans,” von der Leyen explained.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also arrived at the Tirana summit: “I think we have a big responsibility with the countries of the Western Balkans, especially after the Russian attack on Ukraine. We need to strengthen the process of continuing the accession of the countries. “To the EU. There are many issues where we need to work together, from the economy to cyber security, to which Italy is fully committed. We will try our best on roaming and other issues discussed. You can trust Italy”, he said.