(ANSA) - BUDVA, 8 MAY - Job creation, sustainable development, environmental protection, infrastructure, and tourism are the objectives of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region, which were agreed at the fourth annual Eusair forum in Budva. The objectives are contained in a final declaration that calls for the EU Commission to guarantee European funds dedicated to macro-regional projects in the next multi-year EU budget.

''Italy is among the founders of the initiative and we feel a responsibility to carry out this exercise of peace and cohesion between the Adriatic and Ionian countries'', the AII general secretary, Giovanni Castellaneta, former Italian ambassador to Washington, told Ansa. The Budva declaration, signed by all the ministers of the 8 countries in the macro-region (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina), is the basis on which the community can work to strengthen territorial synergies and support the Western Balkans in the European integration process. ''Ahead of the European elections, we sent today a strong signal to all EU countries to maintain the speed of the accession process'' said Castellaneta, underlining the importance of EU financial commitment for the future of the candidate member states ''otherwise other Countries, such as China, are ready to finance these projects''. (ANSA)