Italian premier says Ukraine's EU candidate status historic step

ROME: Italy's prime minister said Friday that granting Ukraine EU candidate status is a historic and important step.

Mario Draghi said the move is also important for the rest of Europe as well as for Ukraine.

His remarks were made at a news conference following a two-day EU Leaders' summit in Brussels, reported Anadolu Agency.

He said Italy was the first to support the EU accession process of Western Balkan countries and noted that Rome believes Albania should continue negotiations alone in case a problem arises for North Macedonia during its membership process.

Serbia is currently engaged in talks with the EU, while the bloc's negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania have been on hold since 2020.

European leaders granted candidate status to Ukraine on Thursday in a historic move that paves the way for the war-ravaged country's EU membership.

EU leaders also approved Moldova's candidate status and announced that Georgia is next in line once it meets certain conditions.

-- BERNAMA