Presidency

On the occasion of the Austrian EU Council Presidency starting on 1 July 2018, the Trans European Policy Studies Association TEPSA held its traditional Pre-Presidency Conference in Vienna on 7 and 8 June.

The 3rd CNC Meeting held under the CEI Croatian Presidency took place in Trieste, at the CEI HQ, on 30 May.  The participants focused on recent and forthcoming events of both the CEI Presidency and of the Secretariat, in particular on the preparation of the Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Split on 11 June.  

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia organised the international conference “Knowledge sharing for building stronger partnerships in the process of European integration” in Zagreb on 25-26 April, in the framework of  Croatian CEI Presidency.
 

The CEI’s annual Steering Committee (SC) meeting and the CEI Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) meeting under the Croatian Presidency, took place at the Headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London on 19 April. 

The first meeting of the Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) under the Croatian CEI Presidency 2018 took place in Zagreb on 16 February.

During the gathering, Croatia presented its priorities and Calendar of Events, i.e. the high-level meetings planned throughout the year. The CEI Secretariat briefed the CNC on its recent and upcoming activities.
 
Special attention was also paid to the activities planned for enhancing cooperation among and between the Member States, with the EC as well as with other international institutions.
 

The Meeting of the Heads of Government of the 18 CEI Member States (CEI Summit) took place in Minsk on 12 December, back to back with the last CNC Meeting under the Belarusian CEI Presidency.
 

The first meeting of the Committee of National Coordinators, under the Belarusian CEI Presidency, was held in Minsk on 14 February.
 

The Meeting of the Heads of Government of the 18 CEI Member States (CEI Summit) took place in Sarajevo today, 13 December, back to back with the last CNC Meeting under the BiH CEI Presidency.

Participants exchanged views on the European integration process in the light of the migration crisis as well as on infrastructural connectivity of the CEI Region as a precondition for sustainable development and regional and European integration processes.

On 27 October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, met with a CEI Delegation headed by CEI Secretary General, Giovanni Caracciolo di Vetri.
 
They exchanged views on the state and prospects for an enhanced cooperation between the CEI and other international organisations, financial institutions and regional integration processes.  The two sides also discussed the key elements of interaction with the CEI Secretariat in the context of preparations for the forthcoming CEI Presidency of the Republic of Belarus in 2017.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Crnadak, opened the gathering held in New York on 22 September.

He informed participants on the activities planned for the rest of the year under the BiH CEI Presidency, and announced the CEI Summit taking place in November.

The third CEI Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) Meeting under the BiH Presidency took place in Vienna on 30 May 2016, back to back with a Networking Meeting with other International Organisations. On that occasion, Belarus informed the participants that it was ready to assume the Presidency in 2017.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Crnadak paid a visit to the CEI HQ on 27 April.
 
After a welcome speech by CEI Alternate Secretary General, Amb. Margot Klestil-Loeffler, the Minister shortly briefed the executives and the staff of the CEI Secretariat about the CEI Presidency activities, highlighting key priorities such as promotion of interconnectivity, sustainable development and intercultural cooperation.
 

On 23 March 2016, Minister Igor Crnadak received a visit from Italian Senator Ludovico Sonego, head of the Italian Delegation to the CEI Parliamentary Assembly. The meeting was also attended by CEI National Coordinator of BiH, Ambassador Milos Prica and by the Italian Ambassador to BiH, Ruggero Corrias. Minister Crnadak informed about the current political situation in BiH and foreign policy priorities.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Crnadak held a briefing with the Ambassadors of CEI Member States.

The meeting, held in East Sarajevo on 15 March, aimed at presenting the priorities of the CEI Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016 as well as the main planned activities.

A CEI delegation headed by Secretary General, Amb. Giovanni Caracciolo di Vietri, met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Igor Crnadak, and his team in Sarajevo on 8 February 2016 to discuss the programme of activities during the year.

The International Conference on Migration held in Skopje on 15-16 December under the Macedonian CEI Presidency, was hosted by H.E. Nikola Poposki, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia. 

The last meeting of the Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) under the Macedonian CEI Presidency 2015 was held in Skopje on 17 December 2015. On that occasion, participants took stock of the numerous activities and events organised throughout the year both by the Presidency and the CEI Secretariat.

Special attention was paid to strengthening relations with the EU and its institutions as well as to cooperation with other international and regional organisations.