(ANSA) - SOFIA, 17 APR - "We have been talking a lot about the enlargement of the European Union and especially to the Western Balkans, which have been waiting for almost 20 years: it is time to speed up as much as possible and make sure that this enlargement happens quickly." Italy's President Sergio Mattarella said this in Sofia after a conversation with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. "We had a very intensive exchange in the field of security and defense. We decided to increase the security of NATO's eastern flank, and we have joint projects in the arms industry," Radev said. The Bulgarian president explained that there is "full and mutual trust" between Italy and Bulgaria, and therefore, there is a willingness to "deepen economic cooperation." (ANSA).