(ANSA) - BELGRADE, FEB 26 - The Committee of National Coordinators of the Central European Initiative (CEI) met today in Bucharest, officially kicking off the Romanian CEI Presidency in 2026. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Toiu and CEI Secretary General Franco Dal Mas opened the meeting, which took place at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "With the Romanian Presidency, we want to promote even more concrete and effective regional cooperation," Toiu stated. "Our motto, 'Closer in the Region, Stronger in Europe,' reflects the goal of strengthening cohesion among member countries while also firmly supporting the path of European integration in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity," the minister added. "In Bucharest, we reiterated the importance of continuing to advance on the path of European integration and maintaining our firm support for Ukraine," said Secretary General Dal Mas. Ukraine will take over the CEI Presidency in 2027. "This was also an opportunity to take stock of the organisation of the Conference for the Executive Secretariat's thirtieth anniversary, which is scheduled for March 17 in Trieste," Dal Mas said. In collaboration with his Romanian counterpart, Toiu, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is promoting the conference, which is anticipated to be attended by the member nations' foreign ministers as well as other high-ranking officials. (ANSA).