On 20 November, 2024, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CEI Member States convened in Tirana for their Annual Meeting. The gathering was held back to back with the last Committee of National Coordinators Meeting for 2024 under the Albanian Presidency. It focused on strengthening the CEI’s role in regional cooperation, advancing European integration, supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, as well as on addressing pressing global and regional challenges.
Albania’s Foreign Minister, H.E. Igli Hasani, officially opened the gathering together with CEI-ES Secretary General, Roberto Antonione. They both emphasised the CEI’s critical role in fostering dialogue, solidarity and constructive regional cooperation and partnerships across the region; and highlighted that this role had become even more vital in view of the pressing international challenges.
Recalling the 35th Anniversary of the CEI, the Ministers praised the Organisation’s ability to quickly adapt to new circumstances throughout its history, and underlined the importance of maintaining this virtue in the future through continuous strengthening. In this regard, they welcomed the Recommendations for the Strengthening of the CEI as a basis upon which to build in areas where the Member States agree the CEI has demonstrated concrete added value.
The Ministers emphasised that the EU integration process represented a geo-strategic investment in peace and democracy, as well as a cornerstone of stability, security and prosperity for the whole CEI region, and, therefore, should be further promoted. In this regard, they commended important milestones achieved by EU candidate countries in 2024, such as: Montenegro, for the 16th Intergovernmental Conference in June 2024 that set closing benchmarks on chapters 23 and 24; and Albania, for the 2nd Intergovernmental Conference in October 2024 for opening negotiations on Cluster 1 – Fundamentals, as significant steps in the process. They also welcomed the March 2024 European Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina; as well as first Intergovernmental Conferences with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in June 2024, to formally open accession negotiations. Overall, the Ministers praised the commitment of all candidate countries, recalling that the process is based on the principle of own merits, and on the adherence to the established criteria and fundamental European values, as well as on the capacity of these countries to implement the EU-related reforms.
The Ministers also confirmed their steady support for Ukraine amid Russia's continued aggression, with ministers condemning the violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
They also stressed the importance of the CEI Plan of Action 2024-2026 as a roadmap for tackling shared challenges, including sustainable development, environmental protection, and advancing connectivity and digital transformation. In this regard, they took note of the results obtained this year with institutional and project activities, and approved the budget for next year's CEI Cooperation Fund.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a Joint Statement reaffirming the importance of the CEI's role in fostering regional cooperation for European integration and sustainable development and supporting Ukraine, while continuing to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
They commended Albania’s leadership during the 2024 Presidency and extended their best wishes to Serbia as the incoming CEI Presidency for 2025.
Warm thanks were also conveyed to outgoing Secretary General Roberto Antonione, with congratulations extended to his successor, Franco Dal Mas, marking a new chapter for the Organisation.
For more info: arsova@cei.int
