Tirana, February 18 (QNA) - Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani affirmed Wednesday his country's support for accelerating accession negotiations for Albania and Montenegro to join the European Union (EU).

This came in press statements he made in the Albanian capital, Tirana, on the sidelines of his participation in the second ministerial meeting on the Pan-European Corridor VIII, which connects the Italian ports of Bari, Brindisi, and Puglia with Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.

The Corridor is one of ten comprehensive European transport networks aimed at facilitating the movement of people and goods between Western and Eastern Europe and enhancing regional connectivity.

The Italian minister said Italy "fully support accelerating the accession negotiations for Albania and Montenegro to join the European Union, as well as for all other candidate countries."

He stressed that European reunification is essential, noting that countries geographically located in Europe and aspiring to EU membership should not lose hope of full integration into the bloc.

The Italian minister also affirmed that Rome would "do its utmost to accelerate this process," expressing the view that these countries should complete their accession path ahead of Ukraine and Moldova. (QNA)