On 28 May 2026, the Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) of the CEI Member States convened in Trieste at the headquarters of the CEI-Executive Secretariat for its second meeting under the Romanian CEI Presidency 2026.
Opened by the Presidency together with CEI Secretary General Franco Dal Mas, the meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the Organisation's strategic priorities at a particularly important moment for Europe, marked by ongoing geopolitical challenges, the EU enlargement process and regional cooperation efforts.
In his opening remarks, Secretary General Dal Mas stressed the growing strategic importance of the CEI region in the evolving European landscape.
"At a time when Europe is shaping its future architecture, our region is becoming increasingly important. It is strategic for connectivity, energy and transport corridors, trade and economic integration, but also for culture, dialogue and peoples. The Baltic-Adriatic-Black Sea area is emerging more and more as one of the strategic spaces for the future of Europe, including in the context of Ukraine's recovery. We speak about reunification, the reunification of Europe," he stated.
The meeting allowed participants to take stock of the activities carried out under the Romanian CEI Presidency 2026 and to discuss ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening cooperation between the CEI, the European Union, the United Nations and other regional organisations.
A significant part of the discussion focused on the follow-up to the high-level conference marking the 30th anniversary of the CEI-Executive Secretariat, held in Trieste on 17 March 2026. In this context, Federico Castiglioni, Researcher at the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), presented the ongoing analytical work supporting the Organisation's future strategic orientation, also in view of the next CEI Plan of Action.
The National Coordinators also exchanged views on the possible revitalisation of the CEI Summit, as well as on recent developments concerning the CEI Cooperation Fund, the Falcone-Borsellino Programme and the ongoing project activities implemented by the CEI-Executive Secretariat.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the CEI Member States to strengthening regional dialogue, practical cooperation and European integration across Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
More info: arsova@cei.int
