The CEI-Executive Secretariat together with Italy, holding this year's CEI Presidency, is organising a CEI side–event at the margins of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2019. The event, under the title “The contribution of regional cooperation and partnerships to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda: the experience of the Central European Initiative”, is taking place on 17 July 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
It aims at presenting best practices developed within the framework of the CEI on promoting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the regional level, with a focus on the SDGs under review this year by the HLPF (SDG 4 - quality education, SDG 8 - decent work and economic growth, SDG 10 - reduced inequalities, SDG 13 - climate action and SDG 16 - peaceful societies, justice and strong institutions). Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas and Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs are taking part in the event as keynote speakers, while several CEI long-standing partners, who with the help of the CEI have undertaken activities linked to the above-mentioned goals, will share their experience.
In the framework of the HLPF, CEI Secretary General, Roberto Antonione, and CEI Deputy Secretary General, Nina Kodelja, will have a bilateral meeting Jenča, in order to discuss possibilities for further cooperation between the UN and the CEI.
On 16 July, they will also participate in the High-level Segment of Economic and Social Council/Ministerial Segment of HLPF at United Nation Headquarters in New York.
The CEI has had an Observer Status at the UN General Assembly since 2011.