(ANSA) - SOFIA, JANUARY 30 - "I confirmed that Italy supports Bulgaria's commitment to closing the European cooperation and verification mechanism, its accession to the Schengen Area and the eurozone. Bulgaria is a benchmark for the countries of the area, fully integrated into the EU and Nato". That is what Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said during his visit to Bulgaria, in a joint press conference with Bulgarian Premier Boyko Borissov. Italy is at the forefront to support the country's modernization process, "even in sectors such as defense," Conte added. "There is a common will to work together for the integration of the Western Balkans in the EU, and we are convinced of the need for Albania and North Macedonia to be integrated as soon as possible," underlined Conte in the joint press conference. Corridor number eight (linking Bulgaria and Italy across the Adriatic Sea) and the interconnector linking Greece and Bulgaria from Alexandroupolis were among the issues on the table concerning the gas pipeline dossier. "Corridor 8 is very important to us and we collaborate closely in the energy sector", explained Borissov. "By the end of this year - he said - the construction of all parts of the gas pipelines will be completed." (ANSA).