History Highlights

  • 2022

    Presidency:
    Bulgaria

  • 2021

    Presidency:
    Montenegro

  • 2020

    Presidency:
    Montenegro

  • 2019

    Presidency:
    Italy
    • 30th Anniversary of the CEI
    • Mr. Roberto Antonione (Italy)
      Secretary General
    • Adoption of the PoA 2021-2023

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  • 2018

    Presidency:
    Croatia

  • 2017

    Presidency:
    Belarus
    CEI Plan of Action 2018-2020
    • Adoption of the PoA 2018-2020
    • MoUs with:
      • the Secretariat of the Danube Commission - signed in Trieste on 28 March 2017
      • IGINP - signed in Trieste on 16 May 2017

  • 2016

    Presidency:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • MoUs with:
      • International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) - signed in Vienna on 30 May 2016 - SIGNED in Vienna on 30 May 2016
      • International Organization for Migration (IOM) -  signed in Sarajevo  on 13 December 2016

  • 2015

    Presidency:
    Macedonia
    United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, September 27, 2015
    United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, September 27, 2015
    • A CEI approach to migration management: Extraordinary Call Migration
    • Joint Statement of the Member States of the Central European Initiative at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 to adopt the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. 
    • MoUs with: 
      • International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) - signed in Vienna on 4 May 2015
      • Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI) - Regional Centre - signed in Skopje on 16 December 2015

  • 2014

    Presidency:
    Austria
    Publication on occasion of 25th Anniversary

  • 2013

    Presidency:
    Hungary
    Amb. Giovanni Caracciolo di Vietri
    Amb. Giovanni Caracciolo di Vietri
    • Amb. Giovanni Caracciolo di Vietri (Italy)
      Secretary General
    • Revisited Business Dimension
    • Croatia joins EU

  • 2012

    Presidency:
    Ukraine
    Amb. Gerhard Pfanzelter, CEI Secretary General, and Amb. Elena Kirtcheva, the Secretary General of the Vienna Economic Forum
    • CEI participates in Sixty-Seventh Session of UN General Assembly where resolution 67/7 on Cooperation between United Nations and Central European Initiative was adopted
    • MoU with Vienna Economic Forum - signed in Trieste on 4 June 2012

  • 2011

    Presidency:
    Serbia
    From left: BSEC SG, Amb. Chrysanthopoulos and CEI SG Amb. Pfanzelter
    From left: BSEC SG, Amb. Chrysanthopoulos and CEI SG Amb. Pfanzelter
    • Obtains observer status in UN General Assembly unanimously granted by Resolution 66/111
    • MoU with Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) - signed at BSEC HQ on 7 March 2011
    • Implementation of Budva Recommendations which confirmed the CEI’s central mission: bringing non-EU countries closer to the EU. 

  • 2010

    Presidency:
    Montenegro
    Amb. Gerhard Pfanzelter
    Amb. Gerhard Pfanzelter
    • Amb. Gerhard Pfanzelter (Austria)
      Secretary General
    • Participates in elaboration of Danube Strategy and enhanced partnership with EU
    • Establishment of International Group of Experts (IGE) on Strengthening of the CEI resulting in Budva Recommendations adopted by the MFAs.The Group established excellent foundations for streamlining CEI’s activities and enhancing its role in the region, thus making the Organisation a more effective instrument in the process of EU rapprochement and further EU accession of its non-EU countries.

  • 2009

    Presidency:
    Romania
    Publication on occasion of 20th Anniversary
    • MoUs with:
      • Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) - signed in Sarajevo on 12 May 2009
      • UNESCO Office in Venice

  • 2008

    Presidency:
    Moldova
    Amb. Pietro Ercole Ago
    Amb. Pietro Ercole Ago
    • Amb. Pietro Ercole Ago (Italy)
      Secretary General
    • Change of titles of the executve level of the Secretariat (Secretary General replaced Director General)
    • Implementation of CEI Repositioning.

  • 2007

    Presidency:
    Bulgaria
    • KEP Austria established
    • Romania and Bulgaria join the EU
    • Decision on repositioning adopted: following the EU enlargements in 2007, the CEI Summit in Sofia in November 2007, adopted a set of decisions on the CEI Repositioning in order to render this intergovernmental Forum of eighteen Member States a more effective instrument of cooperation, better equipped to serve the needs of its Member States and to more fully exploit its comparative advantages such as its unique membership, its high political visibility, its demand driven operational activities and its intergovernmental networks. 

  • 2006

    Presidency:
    Albania
    • Montenegro joins
    • Concept of Feature Events endorsed: activities carrying the name of the CEI or dedicating special segment to it
    • New agreement between Italy and EBRD for the CEI Fund at the EBRD

  • 2005

    Presidency:
    Slovakia

  • 2004

    Presidency:
    Slovenia
    Publication on occasion of 10th Anniversary of the CEI Instrument for the Protection on Minority rights
    Publication on occasion of 10th Anniversary of the CEI Instrument for the Protection on Minority rights
    • Know-how Exchange Programme Italy (KEP Italy) established
    • CEI University and Science and Technology Networks operational
    • CEI-ES also started its active participation in the implementation of EU-funded projects. 
    • Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary join EU
      (largest enlargement to date)

  • 2003

    Presidency:
    Poland
    Medal of Honour
    Medal of Honour
    • CEI Medal of Honour established
    • Enhanced cooperation with Parliamentary Dimension and with the Business Dimension
    • Conference on CEI Cooperation - bringing together Chairs of all Working Groups, CNC and Secretariat - regularly organised in Trieste.
    • EC Focal Point for the CEI established

  • 2002

    Presidency:
    Macedonia
    Amb. Harald Kreid
    • Amb. Harald Kreid (Austria)
      Director General
    • CEI Guidelines and Rules of Procedure amended and adopted by CEI Summit in Skopje

  • 2001

    Presidency:
    Italy
    • CEI Cooperation Fund established

  • 2000

    Presidency:
    Hungary
    • FR Yugoslavia (later renamed State Union of Serbia and Montenegro) joins

  • 1999

    Presidency:
    Czech Republic
    Publication on occasion of 10th Anniversary
    • 10th Anniversary celebrated
    • CEI actively engaged in Stability Pact

  • 1998

    Presidency:
    Croatia
    • CEI Solidarity Fund established
    • MoU with UNECE
    • Platform for a Dialogue between the CEI and the EU on a Political Level for the Development of CEI-EU Cooperation circulated at Summit in Zagreb
    • First CEI Summit Economic Forum held in Zagreb: CEI major activity in the economic/business area until 2009

  • 1997

    Presidency:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • First CEI Plan of Action adopted
    • CEI CID renamed CEI-Executive Secretariat
    • Sarajevo Declaration             
    • Coordination among regional organisations initiatied

  • 1996

    Presidency:
    Austria
    Amb. Paul Hartig
    • Albania, Bulgaria, Romania Belarus Moldova and Ukraine join
    • Amb. Paul Hartig (Austria)
      1st Director General
    • CEI CID inaugurated in Trieste
    • CEI Headquarters Agreement concluded between Italian Government and Austrian CEI Presidency
    • European Council endorses CEI mission

  • 1995

    Presidency:
    Poland
    • CEI Guidelines and Rules of Procedure adopted
    • Decision to establish Centre for Information and Documentation (CEI CID)
    • Austria joins EU

  • 1994

    Presidency:
    Italy
    • CEI Instrument for the Protection of Minority Rights adopted
    • Official programme established: CEI Summit, MFA Meeting and other ministerial meetings in CEI areas of activity

  • 1993

    Presidency:
    Hungary
    • Czech Republic, Slovakia and Macedonia join

  • 1992

    Presidency:
    Austria
    • Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina join Italian CEI Fund at the EBRD established
    • Organisation renamed Central European Initaitive

  • 1991

    Presidency:
    SFR Yugoslavia
    Krakow
    Streets of Krakow (1991)
    • Poland joins (Hexagonale)
    • Secretariat for Hexagonal projects established in London (later renamed Office for CEI Fund at EBRD)

  • 1990

    Presidency:
    Italy
    • Czechoslovakia joins (Pentagonale)

  • 1989

    Presidency:
    Hungary
    Berlin Wall: the first holes
    Berlin Wall: the first holes
    • Italy, Austria, Hungary, SFR Yugoslavia establish the Quadragonale
    • Fall of the Iron Curtain