Italy reaffirms its leading role in promoting the European integration of the Western Balkans through the Central European Initiative (CEI) Fund at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which is financed by Italy.
This commitment was highlighted during two events held in Podgorica (26 May) and Sarajevo (27 May), organised by the CEI, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and the EBRD.
The initiatives brought together ministers from the governments of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, accompanied by their respective CEI National Coordinators, the Italian Ambassadors Andreina Marsella (Podgorica) and Sara Eti Castellani (Sarajevo), the Italian National Coordinator from MAECI, Directors from the EBRD offices and the CEI Executive Secretariat, as well as representatives from local institutions, businesses, and civil society.
The meetings focused on the tangible outcomes of the Fund’s two main instruments: the Technical Cooperation Programme and the Know-How Exchange Programme.
To date, the grant-funded projects supported by the CEI Fund – over 90 in Montenegro totalling approximately EUR 9 million and more than 120 in Bosnia and Herzegovina exceeding EUR 15.5 million – have had a significant impact in strategic areas such as infrastructure, energy, support for youth entrepreneurship, and institutional strengthening.
“The CEI Fund at the EBRD is a concrete example of enlargement diplomacy. We will continue to support alignment with EU objectives, investments, and the sharing of best practices in CEI member countries to accompany them on their path to EU accession,” stated Franco Dal Mas, CEI Secretary General.
It was also announced that the 2025 KEP Call for Proposals will be launched in June 2025.
Through this initiative, MAECI and the CEI reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening regional and multilateral dialogue, promoting a common European future for the Western Balkans.
