Minister Grabar-Kitarović on CEI working lunch

The ministers talked about the pending meeting of the CEI members’ prime ministers and ministers of economy, to be held under the Czech presidency. They also discussed the relations in Central and Eastern Europe, and unanimously supported Croatia’s efforts on its road to the EU, and expressed hope for a soon start of the negotiations.

The Central European Initiative is a regional association that includes 17 member states: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Ukraine. With its activities, CEI stimulates a multilateral approach to co-operation, confirmed by joint political and economic actions.

The CEI guidelines are agreed upon at regular meetings of the members’ prime ministers and foreign ministers, held once a year. The basic guidelines are determined by the UN Charter, the Helsinki Process documents (OSCE, Final Act, Paris Charter, Pact on Stability in Europe), final documents from the meetings of the Quadrilateral, Pentagonal, Hexagonal and CEI prime and foreign ministers.

CEI, as a part of the European integration process, co-operates with European organisations and institutions, especially OSCE, EU and the European Council.