Italy says Albania and Montenegro are ready to join EU

Italy’s foreign minister has said Albania and Montenegro are ready to join the European Union, calling Western Balkan membership a political priority for Rome.

Antonio Tajani said Italy also wanted to help other countries in the region move closer to the EU, but argued the Western Balkans should join before Ukraine and Moldova.

He said Albania and Montenegro still needed support in fighting corruption, pointing to the work of Italy’s Guardia di Finanza in both countries.

Tajani said he preferred to call the process Europe’s “reunification”, not enlargement, because the Western Balkans were already part of Europe.

Albania has set 2030 as its target year for EU membership.