The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Maria Tripodi, attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in Bucharest, reaffirming Italy’s commitment to strengthening the organisation’s political role and its contribution to the process of European integration, with a particular focus on the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine.
“The reunification of Europe is a strategic priority for Italy. The future of the peoples of the region lies in the European Union,” said Tripodi, emphasising that regional cooperation is a key tool for promoting EU enlargement. The Undersecretary also reiterated the importance of strengthening dialogue between the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the European institutions, not least in view of the new Action Plan for 2027–2030.
During the meeting, the Undersecretary reiterated Italy’s support for the Initiative’s activities through the Fund at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the ‘Falcone Borsellino’ legal diplomacy programme, which aims to strengthen judicial cooperation and the fight against illegal activities in candidate countries. She also highlighted the contribution of the Central European Initiative to Ukraine’s reconstruction, including in the energy sector, and expressed confidence in Ukraine’s forthcoming presidency of the organisation.