On Friday, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the Central European Initiative (CEI) summit in Budva via an audio-video link. The forum was hosted by the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dr Zdravko Krivokapić, and the main topic of the summit was the enlargement of the European Union and strengthening of cooperation with the Eastern European CEI member states.
The CEI Summit marked the last phase of Montenegro’s presidency of the Central European Initiative, and the current topics of the session included addressing current challenges related to sustainable development, international scientific cooperation, the region’s economy after the Covid-19 pandemic and the future of the CEI within the existing financial framework. In addition to the CEI members, the meeting in Budva was also attended by representatives of the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Prime Minister Janez Janša highlighted the importance of the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union and about strengthening EU cooperation with countries of the so-called Eastern Partnership. He emphasised the historically important unifying role of the Central European Initiative, which, given the current international challenges, has the opportunity to once again become an important forum for cooperation between the European Union and the countries on its eastern and south-eastern borders. The Prime Minister thanked the Central European Initiative for its assistance, as it has contributed to controlling the Covid-19 pandemic in cooperation with the World Health Organisation.
Another special event took place at the meeting – namely, the approval of the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in the Western Balkans (2021-2025). And just like our Prime Minister, the majority of other forum members’ leaders also attended the conference via an audio-video link.
The session ended successfully, and afterwards, Krivokapić wrote the following on his social media profiles: “After two years, we are concluding the presidency of the Central European Initiative, and as a valuable member, we will continue to be a constructive and reliable partner in creating a more successful region and Europe.”
Tanja Brkić
