State Secretary Božič noted the excellent and diverse relations between Slovenia and Italy and emphasised the role of the two ethnic minorities as an important element connecting the countries. He expressed hope that with the implementation of constitutional reforms the representation of the Slovenian minority in the Italian Parliament will be preserved.

The talks also focused on the Western Balkans, where both countries agree that the European integration process is essential for the region’s long-term progress and stability.

The State Secretary presented the measures on Schengen border security adopted by Slovenia to prevent irregular migration. Both acknowledged that managing migration flows is one of the key challenges that the EU must deal with. This is why the protection of external borders and the assistance to the Western Balkan countries is of great importance.