The second round of the CEI-EBRD Roadshow in the Western Balkans concluded today in Sarajevo.
The event, jointly organised by the Italian Embassy in Sarajevo and by the CEI-Executive Secretariat, in cooperation with the EBRD Office in Sarajevo, focused on the results and impact of operations supported by the CEI Fund at the EBRD in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Entirely financed by Italy, the Fund has played a significant role in supporting the country’s reform efforts and EU integration path, with over 15.5 million EUR allocated to 123 projects, implemented through the Fund’s two key instruments: the Technical Cooperation Programme and the Know-how Exchange Programme (KEP).
Opening remarks were delivered by Sarah Eti Castellani, Ambassador of Italy to Bosnia and Herzegovina; Sem Fabrizi, CEI National Coordinator for Italy; Dubravka Bošnjak, Minister of Civil Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Zoran Andrić, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, Ministry of Communication and Transport, Bosnia and Herzegovina. They all emphasised how the CEI Fund at the EBRD had been instrumental in supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reform and development efforts over the past two decades by funding projects in sectors critical to EU integration - such as infrastructure, energy, environment, SME development, and public governance.
The event featured presentations on the CEI-EBRD cooperation portfolio in the country, with contributions from relevant ministries, public companies, and municipalities highlighting key achievements of ongoing Technical Cooperation (TC) projects - particularly in the transport and green transition sectors.
Presentations were also delivered by representatives of national agencies and universities that have benefited from capacity-building activities provided in the framework of the Know-how Exchange Programme (KEP). These testimonials strongly underlined how this cooperation had further strengthened ties within the CEI membership and, in particular, between Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 2025 KEP call will be launched in June.
Closing remarks were delivered by Miloš Prica, CEI National Coordinator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina, who reaffirmed the country’s strong partnership with the CEI and the EBRD and expressed appreciation for Italy’s long-standing support as the sole donor to the CEI Fund.
This event, part of a regional roadshow across CEI Fund beneficiary countries, aimed to highlight the shared commitment of Italy, the CEI, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the EBRD to sustainable development and enhanced regional cooperation. A similar event focusing on Montenegro was held yesterday in Podgorica, and other three were previously held earlier in May in Belgrade, Skopje, and Tirana underscoring the CEI Fund’s growing role in supporting the Western Balkans.
For more info: dovier@cei.int