Main navigation

Who we are
Gavias Blockbuider block menu who we are ok
The Central European Initiative (CEI) is a regional intergovernmental forum established in 1989, following the fall of the Berlin wall. It gathers 17 Member States in Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe to promote regional cooperation for EU integration and sustainable development.

watch our institutional video

Read more

Who we are

About us

Member states

Secretary General

Executive Secretariat

Office for the CEI Fund at the EBRD

History highlights

Medal of Honour

CEI BOOK OF HONOUR

Key Document

block-annual-report
What we do

The CEI seeks to fulfill its mission - fostering European integration and boosting sustainable development in its Member States - through political dialogue, multilateral diplomacy, funding, and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with a tangible impact on its region.

It focuses on achieving the goals set by its Plan of Action.

Goals
Politica Agenda

Defines the joint line of action among the Member States in accomplishing the two strategic goals, while also tackling regional and global challenges.

Learn more
Thematic Agenda

Seeks to contribute to European integration and sustainable development especially by promoting economic, environmental and social cohesion while emphasising security, democratic values, and opportunities for youth.

Learn more

Key Document
- Political Agenda
- Thematic Agenda
How we do it
Institutional Cooperation

In order to meet its mission the CEI cooperates at institutional level through a 4-pillar system and strategic partnerships:

block menu - What we Do

Governmental Dimension

Parliamentary Dimension

Economic Dimension

Local Dimension

Partnerships

Project-based Cooperation

The CEI is able to achieve the goals set in its Plan of Action thanks to its diverse funds and instruments:

How we do it

CEI Cooperation Activities

CEI Know-how Exchange Programme

Technical Cooperation with EBRD

Project Management

Key Document

CEI COOPERATION ACTIVITIES
TECHNICAL COOPERATION WITH EBRD

INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION

CEI Know-How Exchange Programme
EU Projects
Info Centre
Stay up to date with the CEI’s media activities. Discover news, photo & video galleries, events and other multimedia.

go to latest publication

Media

block menu - Media Center

Calendar

News

Media & Visual

Publications

Subscribe to CEI Newsletter

Social Media

Body

CEI in the Media

CEI in the Media

09-09-2026
Trieste, al convegno Ansa sui Balcani il nodo sicurezza tra media, mare e infrastrutture— IT
Nordest24

09-09-2026
Balcani: Rosolen, Fvg da area influenza a fronte comune su sfide — IT
Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia

view more

Public Information
Opportunities
Gavias Blockbuider Block menu opportunities
We create new opportunities for cooperation and EU integration thanks to the transfer of innovative solutions and best practices and by building synergies and partnerships.

Join us and get involved!
In order to stay informed about the open CEI Opportunities, sign up to our newsletter!

block-menu-opportunities

Open Calls

Internships

Procurements

Open Calls

Open Calls

Know-how Exchange Programme Call for Proposals 2026 now open!
Deadline: 11 Sep 2026

BIOSTARS Youth Innovators Call now open!
Deadline: 31 Oct 2026

View more
Prizes
Contacts

Search

CEI - EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT

30 Years of Cooperation and Commitment

Read about the Conference held on 17 March 2026

Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha visits the CEI Executive Secretariat in Trieste

Governmental Dimension | 09 Sep, 2026

On 9 September 2026, Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, visited the CEI - Executive Secretariat in Trieste today, where he was welcomed by Secretary General Franco Dal Mas.

LINK-AGE Project kicks off in Treviso

Project Management | 04 Sep, 2026

On 3–4 September 2026, the LINK-AGE Project, co-financed by the Interreg Central Europe Programme, officially launched its activities with a Kick-off Meeting held in Treviso, Italy.

Secretary General Dal Mas attends Bled Strategic Forum

Governmental Dimension | 01 Sep, 2026

On 31 August 2026 Secretary General Franco Dal Mas attended the 21st edition of the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) in Slovenia, one of the leading international platforms for political and strategic dialogue in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

Choosing the future: supporting young leaders at Young Bled Strategic Forum 2026

Cooperation Fund | 28 Aug, 2026

On 27–30 August 2026, over one hundred young professionals, researchers and public officials from across the CEI cooperation area gathered in Kranjska Gora and Bled, Slovenia, at the Young Bled Strategic Forum (Young BSF) to discuss democracy, disinformation and the future of the Euro-Atlantic order.

Italy commits over EUR 2.1 million to new Technical Cooperation Projects

Technical Cooperation | 28 Aug, 2026

The Office for the CEI Fund at the EBRD has announced the approval of eight Technical Cooperation (TC) projects, financed by Italy through its 2026 contribution to the Fund, for a total value of EUR 2,155,000.

Serbian Chamber of Commerce President Marko Čadež visits CEI Executive Secretariat

Economic Dimension | 24 Aug, 2026

On 24 August 2026, Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, visited the CEI - Executive Secretariat where he met Secretary General Franco Dal Mas.

Another

This block is broken or missing. You may be missing content or you might need to enable the original module.

The Central European Initiative (CEI) is a regional intergovernmental forum of 17 Member States in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe - European integration and sustainable development through regional cooperation.

CEI Mission
& Goals

The Central European Initiative (CEI) is a regional intergovernmental forum of 17 Member States* in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
Its two main strategic goals focus on fostering European integration and promoting sustainable development through regional cooperation.

*Belarus suspended

POLITICAL AGENDA

Defines the joint line of action among the Member States in accomplishing the two strategic goals, while also tackling regional and global challenges.

READ MORE

THEMATIC AGENDA

Seeks to contribute to European integration and sustainable development especially by promoting economic, environmental and social cohesion while emphasising security, democratic values, and opportunities for youth.

READ MORE

Subscribe to CEI Newsletter

Keep up-to-date with the latest news and highlights from the Central European Initiative.

Open Calls

Know-how Exchange Programme Call for Proposals 2026 now open!
Deadline: 11 Sep 2026
BIOSTARS Youth Innovators Call now open!
Deadline: 31 Oct 2026

In focus

Annual Report of the Secretary General 2025
Annual Report of the CEI Fund at the EBRD 2025
CHAIR’S STATEMENT – CEI SECRETARIAT 30 YEARS
Joint Statement adopted at CEI Ministers of Foreign Affairs Meeting 2025
CEI Cooperation Fund: 30 activities approved

Highlight

Italy commits over EUR 2.1 million to new Technical Cooperation Projects

Upcoming events

Sep
09
Trieste (Italy)
Conference "The Balkans Meet in Trieste"
Sep
17
Izola (Slovenia)
ASAP at the MACRO-REGIONAL STRATEGIES WEEK
Sep
23 ‒ 24
Koper (Slovenia)
ASAP, Second Anti-Pollution Exercise at Sea
Sep
24
New York (USA)
Informal Ministerial Meeting: Working Lunch on Regional Cooperation on the Sidelines of the 81st UNGA
Sep
29 ‒ 30
Toulon (France)
TREASURE, Final conference and second Transfer workshop

COUNTRIES

PROJECTS

+100

PARTNERS

About the CEI

Ansa news

09 Sep | 23:31Poland: Czarnek (PiS), 'in government with a centre-right coalition'
09 Sep | 23:30Morawiecki on the offensive, my grand strategy for Poland
09 Sep | 23:17Confindustria, 'The Balkans are strategic for shortening supply chains'
09 Sep | 22:59Cooperation between news agencies crucial in fight agst fake news says ABNA's Valchev
09 Sep | 21:05Tufarelli and Czarnek say a new direction is needed to revitalise Europe
09 Sep | 17:52Group of MEPs calls for a halt to Serbia's accession talks following the Mladić case

Facebook

Get in Touch

CEI Secretariat

Via Genova 9 - 34121 Trieste (ITALY)
(+39) 040 7786 777
cei@cei.int

Body

Key Document

block-annual-report

Goals

Key Document

Institutional Cooperation

Project-based Cooperation

Key Document

Media

Social Media

CEI in the Media

CEI in the Media

Open Calls

Search

Another

CEI Mission& Goals

*Belarus suspended

POLITICAL AGENDA

THEMATIC AGENDA

Subscribe to CEI Newsletter

Keep up-to-date with the latest news and highlights from the Central European Initiative.

In focus

Upcoming events

About the CEI

Ansa news

Facebook

CEI Mission
& Goals