We are working and we will work for North Macedonia to be an effective member of the European Union in the shortest possible time, said the Italian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani.

Tajani, at a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mutsunski, said that his visit is not only formal, but a clear message about Italy's investment in accelerating the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans to the EU.

- We will meet the minister again in New York at the "Friends of the Western Balkans" meeting. It is an indication that Italy believes in the region and strongly supports it... North Macedonia is very important, a friendly country of Italy. We want to increase the presence of Italian entrepreneurs. Before I landed, I met with entrepreneurs who want to invest in North Macedonia and I told them that there are many opportunities for investment and that this government wants and will support investors, said Tijani.

Tijani also emphasized the presence of North Macedonia in the NATO alliance and mutual economic cooperation, and announced a meeting to utilize the potential of Corridor 8.

- We decide to organize a meeting for Corridor 8. We will see by the end of the year to open a discussion with North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania, in order to speed up the economic development and the development of the internal market, said Tijani.

Minister Mutsunski assessed the meeting as particularly important, stressing that this is the first visit of the MFA from Europe, since he took office, which he said only confirms and further upgrades the cooperation between the two countries.

At the meeting, Mutsunski said that he emphasized the importance of predictability on the way to European integration, as well as that he was assured of Italy's support on our way to the EU.