On 13 July 2026 The CEI, under the Romanian CEI Presidency and in cooperation with the CEI-Executive Secretariat, organised the side event "Sustainable Infrastructure in the CEI Region: Regional Cooperation as a Driver for SDG Implementation" at the 2026 United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York.
The event brought together high-level representatives from governments, the United Nations, international organisations and regional institutions to explore how stronger regional cooperation can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting sustainable infrastructure, connectivity and resilient development across the CEI region.
The opening session was moderated by Lidija Arsova, Senior Executive Officer responsible for external relations, who framed the discussion by highlighting the strategic importance of regional cooperation and connectivity in advancing sustainable development and achieving the SDGs. The opening segment gathered institutional representatives to exchange views on the role of regional partnerships in addressing common challenges and supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Delivering the opening institutional remarks, CEI Deputy Secretary General Ivana Pejović emphasised that sustainable infrastructure extends beyond physical networks. It requires coordinated policies, effective institutions, adequate financing and active cooperation among governments, international organisations and local communities to generate long-term economic growth, resilience and social cohesion.
The event also showcased how the CEI translates these objectives into concrete action through its operational and financial instruments. Particular attention was devoted to the CEI Fund at the EBRD, financed by Italy, which supports technical assistance and investment preparation, as well as to the CEI Cooperation Fund, which promotes institutional capacity-building, knowledge exchange and multilateral cooperation among CEI Member States.
The interactive panel, moderated by Federico Castiglioni of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), presented concrete experiences and best practices on resilient infrastructure, sustainable transport, SDG governance and local development, demonstrating the added value of regional cooperation in delivering practical and lasting results.
The event featured contributions from László Borbély, State Counsellor to the Prime Minister of Romania; Ambassador Giorgio Marrapodi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations; Ambassador Radomir Ilic, Chargé d'affaires of Serbia to the United Nations; Volodymyr Pavlichenko, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations; Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNOPS; Ivana Živković, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS; Ambassador Gheorghe Leucă, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations; Ambassador Miloš Prica, CEI National Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Council for the Implementation of the SDGs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Vladimir Krkobabić, Manager for Traffic Affairs at Serbian Railway Infrastructure; and Łukasz Bielewski, Director of the Marshal's Cabinet of the Marshal's Office of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship.
The side event reaffirmed the CEI's commitment to supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda by fostering regional dialogue, strengthening partnerships and promoting practical cooperation across Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Through its institutional platform and dedicated cooperation instruments, the CEI continues to contribute to building a more connected, resilient and sustainable region.
For more info: arsova@cei.int
