(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 14 SET - "Without Ukraine and the Western Balkans, we are wasting time in Europe and failing to transform this Europe into the true powerhouse that the EU represents," said Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI), following a meeting with Ukraine's Ambassador to Italy, Ihor Brusylo, today in Trieste. "EU enlargement is, first and foremost, the reunification of Europe," Dal Mas stated. "Let us keep that in mind. Tajani has repeatedly stated that reunifying Europe entails strengthening the EU. Clearly, some people will not like this, but they will have to accept it." The meeting was also attended by Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni, Italy's national coordinator for the CEI, and Nicola Verola, Director General for Europe and International Trade Policy at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regarding Ukraine, Dal Mas stated, "the CEI has achieved positive results: it unequivocally condemned the Russian aggression; provided humanitarian aid; and heeded the requests of Foreign Minister Sybiha—to the extent that we included a condemnation of the Russian abduction of 20,000 children in our declarations. It also supported concrete initiatives for the city of Ternopil through the EBRD's CEI fund, among other activities. This is what we have accomplished, guided by a clear political goal: to transfer the CEI presidency to the Ukrainian people in 2027. We believe," he concluded, "that under the Ukrainian presidency, the CEI will be able to play a central role in European affairs and the events unfolding at this critical time." (ANSA).