30th Anniversary of the CEI-Executive Secretariat
Trieste, 17 March 2026
Venue: Generali Convention Center, Viale Miramare 24/2
Thirty years of cooperation and commitment: Turning Policy into Action
The thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI) marks a moment of great symbolic and political significance in the path of cooperation that unites CEI Member States. This milestone offers a meaningful opportunity to highlight three decades of shared commitment to stability, growth, and European integration, as well as to reaffirm the role of the CEI as a bridging platform for dialogue and cooperation and as a driver of economic and social development within the broader framework of Europe’s reunification. Governments, parliaments, the economic sector, civil society and local actors from the Member States, together with European, regional and international partners, have all played a role in advancing the Initiative’s objectives. This Conference will, therefore, reflect on the CEI’s mission and legacy in promoting European integration and sustainable development, while honouring the many actors which have contributed over the years to the development and activities of the CEI and its Secretariat.
9:00 - 10:30 Accreditation and welcome coffee
- 10:30 – 11:15 Official opening
-
This session is devoted to acknowledging Italy’s role as host country of the CEI Executive Secretariat. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has consistently shown strong political commitment in support of the CEI, its mission, and its Secretariat, complemented by sustained financial contributions that have played a key role in their growth and consolidation. The Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region has likewise provided long-standing and valuable support by hosting the Secretariat in the city of Trieste, as well as by contributing to its activities. In addition, the Italian Parliament has played a key role in CEI cooperation and has expressed firm support for the entire Organisation, as reflected in the recent unanimously adopted Resolution on the CEI and its Secretariat within the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Italian Senate.
Opening address
- Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General, Central European Initiative
Keynote address
- Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy - Host Country
Addresses
- Stefania Craxi, President, Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Italian Senate
- Massimiliano Fedriga, President, Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region
- Michele Valensise, President, Istituto Affari Internazionali
Moderator: Nicoletta Pirozzi, Institutional relations manager, Istituto Affari Internazionali
- 11:15 – 12:10 Panel 1 - Championing the CEI spirit: closer in the region, stronger in Europe
-
The CEI has historically played an essential role as a platform for dialogue, often paving the way for EU enlargement and demonstrating that Europe is built first and foremost through relationships. In this context, the panel will reflect on how shaping the European integration process through cooperation and solidarity reflects a shared political commitment to building a more united, secure, and values-based Europe, positioning enlargement as a pivotal political choice in the current geopolitical landscape. The session will also highlight the role of the CEI Presidency, held by Romania in 2026, in defining the Initiative’s priorities through political dialogue and strengthened regional cooperation.
Keynote address
- Oana Țoiu, Foreign Minister of Romania – CEI Presidency
Addresses
- Marko Djurić, Foreign Minister of Serbia
- Andrii Sybiha, Foreign Minister of Ukraine
- Mihai Popșoi, DPM and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Moldova
- Tanja Fajon, DPM and Foreign Minister of Slovenia
- Ferit Hoxha, Foreign Minister of Albania - TBC
- Elmedin Konaković, Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Gordan Grlić-Radman, Foreign Minister of Croatia
Moderator: Valbona Zeneli, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
12:10 – 12:20 Family photo
- 12:20 – 13:00 Panel 2 - Enhancing CEI connectivity: Linking the Region, Shaping the future
-
This session will examine connectivity within the CEI region as a key driver of European integration and a concrete expression of political commitment towards such integration. By strengthening digital, energy and transport links among countries, institutions, people and markets, including through integrated and diversified networks, the panel will highlight the importance of promoting effective, secure, sustainable and inclusive connectivity that supports economic development, resilience, climate-neutral transition and long-term regional stability.
Addresses
- Roberto Viola, Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), European Commission - vtc
- Ivana Živković, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS
- Gianpiero Nacci, Managing Director, Climate Strategy and Delivery, EBRD
- Marko Čadež, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia
- Matej Zakonjšek, Director, Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community
Moderator: Federico Castiglioni, Istituto Affari Internazionali
- 13:00 – 13:30 Conclusions - A renewed CEI Agenda: deeper impact, strategic integration
-
Building on more than thirty years of experience and regional cooperation, as well as in light of the current geopolitical, economic, and energy challenges facing the European continent, the session will provide an opportunity for strategic reflection on the future of the CEI and the role of its Executive Secretariat in ensuring institutional continuity, effective coordination among the countries and greater visibility for the Organisation’s initiatives. Particular attention will be given to what the CEI represents for its member States, which benefits they received, what improvements can be worked out. The aim is to identify lines of action that will enable the CEI to perform as a catalyst for stability, sustainable development and cohesion across the wider European area, promoting a projects-driven and results-oriented form of cooperation that addresses the needs of Member States.
Addresses
- Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy and Energy Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary
- Zoran Dimitrovski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia
- Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, State Secretary, MFA of Poland
- Ivan Naydenov, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria
Concluding remarks
- Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy
Moderator: Nicoletta Pirozzi, Institutional relations manager, Istituto Affari Internazionali