The CEI, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) jointly presented in Skopje on 7 May 2025, the results and impact of operations supported by the CEI Fund at the EBRD in North Macedonia. Entirely financed by Italy, the Fund has played a significant role in supporting the country’s reform path and EU integration efforts.
The event, part of a regional roadshow across CEI Fund beneficiary countries, aims to highlight the shared commitment of Italy, the CEI, and the EBRD to sustainable development and enhanced regional cooperation.
Italian Ambassador to Skopje Paolo Palminteri and Minister Plenipotentiary Sem Fabrizi, Italy’s CEI National Coordinator, underlined the impact of the country's longstanding financial support. With over EUR 16 million allocated to 113 projects, the CEI Fund has contributed to strengthening institutional capacity and advancing alignment with EU standards in North Macedonia.
The event also featured remarks from Sanja Bozhinovska, Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia; and Fatih Turkmenoglu, EBRD Country Head for North Macedonia. They both highlighted the Fund’s catalytic role in fostering structural reforms, innovation, and cross-border collaboration.
Participants included representatives from government institutions, the private sector, and civil society, many of whom have benefited from CEI Fund-supported initiatives, particularly under the Technical Cooperation Programme and the Know-how Exchange Programme (KEP).
Finka Serafimova-Dushkov, Deputy Director of the Department for EU at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, closed the event by emphasising the Fund’s ongoing contribution to preparing North Macedonia for EU membership and to building a more cohesive and resilient regional framework.
Next stop of the CEI Fund roadshow: Tirana, 8 May.
For more info: dovier@cei.int
