The Central European Initiative foreign ministers discuss the future of the region in the context of the COVID-19 crisis
23 June 2021 News
The future of Europe and the region of Central Europe in the context of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic was the focus of an online meeting of the foreign ministers from the Central European Initiative (CEI) member states, where our country was represented by the Deputy Foreign Minister Zaritsa Dinkova.
She drew the attention to the cooperation between CEI member states in the development of young persons and stressed its particular importance. "Increasing the prospects for young persons in the region is the basis of our commitment to the Three Seas Initiative, which Bulgaria is hosting in 2021," said Deputy Minister Dinkova.
The forum discussed the possibilities for strengthening the process of European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans and deepening cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries.
Deputy Minister Dinkova stressed the importance of cooperation with the EU to achieve a successful socio-economic recovery through the implementation of reforms for sustainable development. She emphasised the importance of the Western Balkan countries' drive for internal reforms, as well as for respect of fundamental European values and principles as a basis for regional cooperation and development of sustainable, forward-looking good neighbourly relations.
"The support that the EU and the Member States provide to their close partners is apparent to the neighbouring countries. The 30 billion-euro investment plan for the Western Balkan region is a good example of this support,” said Zaritsa Dinkova. According to her, it is extremely important for the countries of the Western Balkans to benefit by taking the initiative to implement the "four freedoms" - free movement of goods, capital and people, and freedom of establishment and provision of services. In this way, they will bring their economies closer to the EU internal market, which, combined with the 2021-2024 Common Regional Market Action Plan, will bring concrete benefits to the citizens.
The meeting ended with the adoption of a joint communiqué reaffirming the commitment to the strategic goals and mission of the Central European Initiative - supporting the process of European integration and regional cooperation aimed at achieving sustainable development.
The Central European Initiative, established on 11 November 1989, is one of the oldest and most well-established intergovernmental forums for regional cooperation. It currently has 17 member states, including 9 EU countries - Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, 5 from the Western Balkans - Montenegro, Serbia, Republic of Northern Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 3 from the Eastern Partnership - Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus. Our country has been a full member of the initiative since June 1, 1996.