(ANSA)- Tirana, December 30 - Premier Matteo Renzi said
Tuesday in the Albanian capital that the European Union must
take on new members.
"Either Europe enlarges or it misses an opportunity," Renzi
said.
Declaring himself the "first sponsor" of Albanian EU
membership, Renzi added that "when anyone questions Albania and
the other Balkan countries joining the EU, they are getting
everything wrong".
Speaking during a visit to Tirana climaxing the end of
Italy's duty EU presidency, Renzi underlined that "we need this
area to be not just a part but the heart of the EU in the face
of the challenges that await us".
"We want to change our countries so that they are ever more
capable of building the European ideal," Renzi said during a
press conference with Albanian counterpart Edi Rama.
Renzi calls on EU to admit Albania
'Europe must enlarge or miss an opportunity' says premier