Statement by CEI Secretary General, Franco Dal Mas
Dear Members, Partners and friends of the Central European Initiative,
It is with immense gratitude and a profound sense of responsibility that I assume the role of CEI Secretary General. The recent meeting of CEI Foreign Ministers in Tirana was a strong reminder of the pivitol role the Organisation plays in fostering dialogue, solidarity, and constructive partnerships across our region as well as in addressing immediate regional and global challenges such as the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
As we look to 2025 and beyond, the CEI remains steadfast in its mission to serve as a vital regional intergovernmental forum fostering regional cooperation for European integration and sustainable development, all while advancing the ideals of a united Europe with shared values.
The EU enlargement process continues to be a cornerstone of our work, as we firmly believe it is a geo-strategic investment in peace, democracy, and stability, and is essential for ensuring security and prosperity to our Member States. We will focus on supporting our EU candidate countries in their accession journeys, strengthening good-neighbourly relations, and upholding the values that unite us.
The CEI Plan of Action 2024-2026 provides a robust framework for fostering project cooperation addressing shared challenges such as, among others, sustainable development, environmental protection, and the advancement of connectivity and digital transformation. Our commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals will also guide our actions.
I take this opportunity to share personal thoughts. The European Union, and, with all the necessary distinctions, organisations like the CEI can increasingly become platforms for great mediation, where the sovereignties of individual states can coexist in increasingly interconnected forms.
It is our duty to make every effort to safeguard the principles set out in Article 2 of the Lisbon Treaty.
Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need to preserve democracy, along with all that it entails: individual rights, freedom of expression, and the capacity for acceptance that goes beyond the rigid notions of ethnicity.
In short, I envision a world of open states, where no one can act alone.
Franco Dal Mas
Secretary General, Central European Initiative