A bilateral meeting between the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emma Bonino and the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Suma Chakrabarti took place on 9 September in Rome. Discussions focused on the Bank’s investments in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Region, in particular on Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. Both top officials agreed upon the need for the international community to continue in its endeavor of facilitating the path to stable democracies in the region.
In addition, Foreign Minister Bonino stressed the fundamental role the EBRD played as a catalyst for resources aimed at boosting the economic development in countries such as Jordan, affected by severe social pressure due to continuous flooding of refugees. President Chakrabarti referred to Egypt as a country stricken by social turmoil, thus still having the role of a potential EBRD country of operations only.
Finally, Minister Bonino reaffirmed the continuous support of Italy to the EBRD’s activities in countries of long-established operations, such as the Eastern European countries and the Balkans. Within this framework the Italian Foreign Minister highlighted the success and results achieved through the CEI Fund at the EBRD entirely funded by Italy with 36.5 million EUR since its establishment in 1992. She recalled that the Fund financed technical cooperation projects in support of EBRD investments as well as know-how transfer projects in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine).
For more information: dovier@cei.int
Finally, Minister Bonino reaffirmed the continuous support of Italy to the EBRD’s activities in countries of long-established operations, such as the Eastern European countries and the Balkans. Within this framework the Italian Foreign Minister highlighted the success and results achieved through the CEI Fund at the EBRD entirely funded by Italy with 36.5 million EUR since its establishment in 1992. She recalled that the Fund financed technical cooperation projects in support of EBRD investments as well as know-how transfer projects in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine).
For more information: dovier@cei.int