The Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, stated that there are still five countries missing in the European Union, and the EU can not be considered complete due to the history, culture and value they represent. These countries are Kosovo, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Albania and Serbia from the Western Balkans. 

"Italy has a special attention to them because we are very interested in the stability of that area. We have an essential interest in developing relations across the Adriatic. We must fight to consolidate friendly relations, to overcome historical misunderstandings and to lay the foundations for a wider union," said the Italian president, according to the Italian newspaper. 

The climax of this strategy was reached a year ago, when the Italian President and the Slovenian counterpart, Borut Pahor joined hands in front of Foiba di Basovizza. 

The political fruits of that fraternal gesture, which wanted to build a common historical memory on the ruins of the past, gathered a day ago in Nova Gorica, where the two heads of state celebrated the proclamation of the Slovenian city as the European Capital of Culture for 2025. 

"The process of integrating the continent will not be complete until the countries of the Western Balkans are able to share all our perspectives," the president added. 

"Italy and Slovenia have a special responsibility. Let us jointly support the aspirations of our neighbours and accompany the reform processes they are following," he stressed. 

"There is no excuse for reluctance on the part of the 27 states, nor a change of course from the countries of the Western Balkans. We must never go back," said Italian President Sergio Mattarella.