Skopje, 8 May 2025 (MIA) - Italy is a proven friend of the Republic of North Macedonia and supporter of our strategic goal - full-fledged membership in the European Union, Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi told President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, in Rome on Thursday.

Speaker Gashi voiced expectation that the EU Council will give a clear signal that starting North Macedonia's accession negotiations should be more than an imperative for the Union, considering the fragile and delicate geopolitical developments, the Parliament said in a press release.

Gashi said the cooperation between the two parliaments is dynamic, enhanced through the cooperation protocol that will ensure exchange of experiences and knowledge. In addition, he said that the Macedonian diaspora in Italy, which is about 100,000 strong, can also serve as a bridge connecting both countries.

Fontana reaffirmed Italy's support for North Macedonia's Euro-integration and added that the country has already made many compromises on this path.

He expressed hope that the European Union's doors would open as soon as possible because the Union membership is not only a benefit for aspirants but for the EU itself.

Interlocutors agreed that the excellent political cooperation and the dynamic economic ties offer room for further enhancement and enlargement in all fields of mutual interest. In this regard, the development of the pan-European Corridor VIII and inclusion in the infrastructure, energy and communications interconnectivity networks are of key importance for the Western Balkans.

In the framework of the visit, Parliament’s Secretary General Marina Dimovska met with Fabrizio Castaldi, Secretary General of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, and said that the institution is continually aiming to innovate its operations in line with the contemporary parliamentary standards.

Dimovska said today's meeting could open a new chapter of cooperation between the parliaments' staff through the implementation of the cooperation protocol, which aims to enhance legislative processes, digitization and application of AI.

Castaldi said no parliamentary staff can manage all challenges by itself and should focus on enhancing its role and professionalism through cooperation with counterparts from other parliaments.

On Wednesday, Speaker Gashi and the delegation, which includes MPs Blagica Lasovska, Dimitar Kovachevski and Mimoza Musa, met with representatives of the diaspora in Italy at the Rome-based Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Photo: Parliament