The event “Presentation of the CEI Fund at the EBRD: opportunities for Italian firms” took place in Milan on 16 June 2026, jointly organised by the CEI-Executive Secretariat, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency, with the support of the Italian Office at the EBRD. Around 50 participants attended, including representatives of engineering, architecture and consulting firms, SMEs, business associations and institutional stakeholders.
It was recalled that the CEI Fund at the EBRD, established by Italy in 1992 and financed exclusively by the Italian Government with a total contribution of EUR 61.5 million, currently operates in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine. Participants were also informed that EUR 3 million have been allocated for 2026, confirming Italy’s continued commitment to the CEI–EBRD partnership.
Reference was made to the CEI Fund Annual Report 2025, which highlights the central role of the Fund’s Technical Cooperation Programme. Technical Cooperation provides grant‑based assistance in support of EBRD operations and contributes to investment preparation, institutional strengthening and regulatory reforms across several priority sectors. Since 1993, over EUR 38 million have been committed to over 200 TC assignments, expected to mobilise more than EUR 8.3 billion in international investments, including over EUR 6.5 billion from the EBRD.
Information was also provided on the CEI Know‑how Exchange Programme (KEP), supporting capacity building and best‑practice transfer from EU CEI Member States to beneficiaries in non‑EU CEI countries. In this context, participants were informed that an online event would be held on 22 June to present the 2026 KEP Call for Proposals.
The institutional presentations were complemented by examples and case studies from a Technical Cooperation project financed by the CEI Fund, to share insights on working with the Bank within CEI‑funded technical assistance assignments.
A focused overview was then provided on the participation of Italian firms in EBRD‑funded tenders. In 2025, Italian companies were awarded contracts worth over EUR 11 million, confirming a solid performance in competitive procedures while also indicating significant untapped potential. In this context, the Italian Trade Agency illustrated the services it offers to support Italian companies in accessing multilateral tenders, including advisory tools and dedicated assistance. The EBRD also outlined the new Procurement Policies and Rules entering into force in 2026, highlighting the main changes relevant to companies interested in Bank‑funded opportunities.
The concluding discussion was lively and well attended, reflecting strong interest in the opportunities offered by the CEI Fund at the EBRD and in Italy’s long‑standing commitment to supporting transition, institutional strengthening and regional cooperation within the CEI region.
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