(ANSA) - TRIESTE - "Fourteen years have passed since the Thessaloniki Summit and, Croatia apart, the promise of enlargement" for Western Balkans "has not been kept", the president of Italian Friuli Venezia Giulia Region Debora Serracchiani said in Trieste during the Forum "The Western Balkans in the European Union: Perspectives of a region in Europe".

"Though important progress has been made in priority sectors, it now seems more urgent than ever to give the EU greater credibility in the eyes of Western Balkans countries". At the same time, Serracchiani added, "the countries of the Western Balkans are called upon to stand up and be counted in the definition of Europe's future, showing their determination in giving shape to an agenda that reflects the real needs of the area".

The Forum took place on Monday in Trieste and was organised by Iai - Istituto Affari Internazionali, Cife - Centre international de formation européenne, Cfa - Austro-French Centre for Rapprochement in Europe, Cei - Central European Initiative. (ANSA).