The meeting of the CEI Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) took place in Trieste on 15 October 2025 under the current Serbian CEI Presidency.
In his opening remarks, Secretary General Franco Dal Mas expressed appreciation to the Serbian CEI Presidency 2025, represented by Ambassador Miloš Todorović, for its active cooperation, and warmly welcomed Ambassador Alfredo Durante Mangoni, the new Italian National Coordinator, thanking Ambassador Sem Fabrizi for his valuable contribution to the Organisation.
In view of the forthcoming Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to be held in Belgrade in November, Dal Mas underlined the importance of CNC discussions on key priorities such as European integration, support for Ukraine, regional connectivity, and good governance. He stressed that the CEI was fully committed to the process of European integration, accompanying the candidate countries on their path towards the European Union.
Participants also exchanged views on countering disinformation undermining security in the region, stressing the need to strengthen transparent and fact-based communication and address cybersecurity, both on European matters and on issues related to the ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
The session featured presentations on the Falcone–Borsellino Project and on the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
The former - formally approved on 3 October - was amply illustrated by Nicola Lener, Rule-of-law diplomacy Coordinator from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It aims at strengthening institutional capacities countering corruption and promoting good governance through judicial diplomacy.
Ambassador Francesco Talò, Special Envoy of Italy for IMEC, underlined Trieste’s potential as
“a strategic hub where the IMEC, the Three Seas Initiative and the Central European Initiative converge, strengthening the bridge between Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe”. He emphasised that since maritime connections account for 90% of the route, Trieste and other Adriatic ports could play a pivotal role in linking the Mediterranean with the Baltic, the Black Sea, and the Balkans, thereby creating new economic opportunities across the entire region.
The CNC received an update on the latest activities of the CEI-Executive Secretariat, including developments within the CEI Fund at the EBRD and the CEI Cooperation Fund, as well as on the CEI’s participation in EU-funded projects.
In conclusion, Romania confirmed to take over the CEI Presidency in 2026, a year which will mark the 30th anniversary of the CEI-Executive Secretariat in Trieste. Three decades since its establishment as the Organisation’s operational hub, the event will be an opportunity to highlight the Secretariat’s key role in fostering cooperation across its Member States and safeguarding the CEI mission. A series of events and visibility initiatives will be organised throughout 2026 to celebrate this milestone, showcasing the CEI’s achievements and reaffirming its commitment to building bridges between the European Union and its neighbouring regions.
For more info: arsova@cei.int
