The Ministerial Meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) was held today in Belgrade, with Italy represented by the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, acting on behalf of Minister Tajani. The meeting, which brought together the Foreign Ministers of the 16 member countries, marked the closing event of the Serbian Presidency, ahead of the next year’s handover to Romania.
In her address, Undersecretary Tripodi emphasised that Italy considers the CEI an essential instrument of its foreign policy and a strategic platform for cooperation across Central and South-Eastern Europe. She highlighted the Initiative’s driving role in promoting integration, connectivity and regional stability, noting that 2026 will mark an important milestone. “The celebrations for the thirtieth anniversary of the CEI Secretariat,” she said, “which Italy will host in Trieste, will open a new phase of renewal and greater ambition for the organisation”. Undersecretary Tripodi devoted particular attention to infrastructure and interconnections. In this context, she referred to the Trieste–Belgrade railway line as a symbolic project on which Italy intends to continue working with determination.
She also underscored Italy’s concrete contribution to strengthening the CEI through projects financed in support of EU candidate countries, including the “Falcone e Borsellino” programme, aimed at reinforcing judicial authorities, police forces and tools for combating organised crime and corruption. Tripodi concluded by reaffirming Italy’s commitment to supporting the Initiative through the Italian Fund at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which promotes reforms, technical capacity and investment in strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure, the environment, economic governance and innovation.
