Italy “firmly supports” Albania’s bid for European Union integration, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said on Wednesday, ahead of Tirana’s efforts to win EU candidate status in June.
Napolitano was on a two-day official visit to Tirana where he discussed bilateral relations and Albania’s EU integration with President Bujar Nishani.
“Italy has been and will always be a strong supporter of Albania’s EU integration and we strongly believe that Albania will be successful on its way toward EU membership,” Napolitano said in a joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart.
Napolitano also expressed Italy’s satisfaction with Albania’s economic and political developments over recent years.
Albania initially applied for EU candidate status in 2009. The government hopes to achieve this status in June, when the European Parliament is scheduled to discuss Albania’s proposed entry.
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