The President of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, received in Skopje on 15 February the CEI Acting Secretary General, Mr. Giorgio Rosso Cicogna. President Ivanov expressed deep appreciation for the contribution of the CEI to regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and for the excellent collaboration between his Government and the CEI Secretariat, also in connection of the EU- funded project on Strengthening the Role of the Regional Cooperation Council of Sarajevo, currently under implementation by the CEI.
President Ivanov thanked Mr. Rosso Cicogna for the support in the current definition phase of the initiative aimed at establishing a “Fund for the Future”. The project will focus on providing new opportunities to youth in the Western Balkans and the region of South East Europe, a vital but still unexploited potential for countering brain drain and ensure that they may play in the next years an intense protagonist role in the overall development of the region. The relevant fund raising is being promoted during the Macedonian rotating Presidency of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), which is the oldest autochthonous regional initiative. CEI Acting Secretary General proposed that, when established, the “Fund for the Future” could be managed by the CEI Secretariat in view of its specific experience with other similar instruments, in cooperation with the RCC.
The CEI Acting Secretary General was also received by the Foreign Minister of Macedonia, Mr. Nikola Poposki.
Also on behalf of the Presidency of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Minister Poposki expressed convinced appreciation for the way the CEI is carrying out its mission: fostering regional cooperation to facilitate European integration while providing a bridge between Macroregions. In this context he fully endorsed the project-oriented strategy of the CEI Secretariat and wished that the cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Council of Sarajevo could fruitfully continue beyond the current advisory role implemented by the CEI as requested by the European Commission.
Copyright: MFA Macedonia
Among several areas of cooperation examined during the meeting, Science and Technology, Renewable Energy and Rural Development were mentioned as priority topics. Furthermore, Mr. Rosso Cicogna recalled CEI expertise and activities in the field of Transport, indicating new European co-funded projects still in the pipeline. Minister Poposki recommended particular and constant attention to the Network of European Corridors whose realisation corresponds to a crucial and strategic natural interest for Macedonia, wishing a strong leadership by the CEI Hungarian Presidency in this field.
During his stay in Skopje, the CEI Acting Secretary General also met the President and the Governing Board of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, as well as the representatives of a few other international organisations active in the field of regional cooperation in Rural Development, Public Health and Local Administration and the Ambassador of Italy, Fabio Cristiani.