The Foreign Minister of Italy, Luigi Di Maio, invited the Balkan countries to the EU, stating that leaving them out would be a historic mistake.

Di Maio, in a media interview, commented on the idea put forward by Slovenian President Borut Pahor, for an enlargement of the European Union to include all Balkan countries at the same time.

"The integration of all Balkan countries is an ambitious goal, but certainly achievable and Italy is on the front line to achieve it. The countries of the region have to face complex but necessary challenges. Everyone will complete the path according to their abilities, but it is essential that everyone achieves this strategic goal.

In Brussels, we all have in common that the EU cannot view the Western Balkans simply as one of its neighbourhood regions. Leaving these countries outside the EU would be a historic mistake, that would favour third parties, not necessarily interested in the region's full integration into the European Union," Di Maio said.