On 20 May 2025 CEI Secretary General Hon. Franco Dal Mas, met in Skopje with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Republic of North Macedonia, Timcho Mucunski. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Italy, Paolo Palminteri.
During talks, the Secretary General outlined the CEI’s priorities, reaffirming the Organisation’s support for North Macedonia’s European path and acknowledging the country’s active and constructive role.
“The CEI is committed to supporting European integration, promoting regional stability, and strengthening tools for tangible cooperation. The active involvement of the Western Balkan countries is now more necessary than ever to build a more cohesive and secure Europe,” stated Secretary General Dal Mas.
In this context, he also recalled the words of Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, who said that the accession of the Western Balkans should not be seen as an enlargement, but rather as the reunification of Europe.
Among the initiatives presented during the discussion were the “Falcone-Borsellino” programme – a joint effort between the Serbian CEI Presidency and Italy aimed at strengthening the fight against organised crime and corruption – and ongoing activities in the field of regional connectivity, particularly along the Western Balkans–Eastern Mediterranean corridor.
Minister Mucunski, expressing appreciation and support for the work of the CEI, highlighted how North Macedonia saw the Organisation as a reliable partner and a key channel for promoting stability, development, and tangible cooperation in the region. He also expressed gratitude to Minister Tajani for his concrete and continued commitment to the dialogue and integration of the Western Balkans.
Both parties also reiterated their commitment to supporting Ukraine, welcoming the appointment of a Ukrainian Deputy Secretary General to the CEI Secretariat.
The meeting concluded with an official invitation from Secretary General Dal Mas to Minister Mucunski to visit the CEI Headquarters in Trieste.
For more info: arsova@cei.int
