No 1st- and 2nd-tier Europe - Meloni at EPC summit

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 1 - Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the European Political Community (EPC) summit "is important to reiterate that there is no first-tier and second-tier Europe" as she arrived at the meeting in Bulboaca, Moldova, on Thursday.
    "We are holding this summit in a time which the (recent) crises have revealed weaknesses, including some European ones," she added.
    The second meeting of the EPC brings together leaders from 47 countries, including representatives of the EU 27 and states such as Ukraine, Switzerland, Serbia and the UK.
    She stressed that Italy was on the "front line" in supporting Kyiv when asked about Ukraine's bid to join NATO following Russia's invasion.
    "As John Paul II said, Europe needs to breathe with two lungs, a western one and an eastern one," Meloni said.
    "This takes on a (special) significance at this moment in time, with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky and Ukraine defending freedom.
    "We are holding the summit in Moldova, which is another country under threat and it would be involved by now if the Ukrainians had not defended themselves as they are". (ANSA).