Italy Praises Bulgaria's Schengen Readiness

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev (left) with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Italy firmly supports Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen agreement, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano declared on Friday.

On Friday, Napolitano welcomed his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev who arrived in Rome for his first official visit abroad since he took over in January.

"I am happy that President Plevneliev chose Italy for his first visit. This is a considerable recognition of the friendly relations between our countries and their views when it comes to the full integration of the Balkans in the Euro-Atlantic structures," the Italian President said, as cited by Standart.

Both Bulgaria and Italy back the integration of Western Balkan states with EU, Napolitano also pointed out after the meeting.

"We have very strong economic relations. Italy is our second most important trade partner and one of the largest investors in Bulgaria. Italy has always understood and supported Bulgaria," Plevneliev stated. He thanked Napolitano for the important and difficult reforms which the Italian government initiated.

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