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Press release from the Ministerial Meeting Central European Initiative (CEI)
Friday, 18 June 2010 PDF Print
thumb_CEI_18052010-vThe annual meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CEI member-states was held on June 15 in Budva. The meeting was presided over by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Roćen.
The meeting on a theme "Regional Cooperation in the Context of European Integration" gathered the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Serbia, Albania, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia, high representatives of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CEI member-states, as well as the Secretary-General of CEI and the representatives of the EC and EBRD. The attendatns exchanged opinions on the current state of affairs in the region, relations with the EU, the concrete projects, and the cooperation with the international financial institutions, especially EBRD.
The so-called "Budva Recommendations" were adopted, which advocate the stregthening of the political, structural, financial and overall visibility of the CEI. These recommendations especially underline the need for improved dialogue with European institutions, especially the EC, with the idea of achieving the common goal of the Western Balkans states - EU membership. The High Representatives have agreed that the basis of this road is regional cooperation. Consequently, the Meeting, as well as the Montenegrin presidency, were recognised as an additional impulse in the strengthening of the ties in the region and among CEI member-states.

Minister Roćen said that Montenegro, as a country presiding over the Initiative, wants to contribute to the positive image of the Western Balkans as a whole and that, through a common regional agenda and the development of good neighbourly relations, become a factor of strengthening of the European stability. He emphasised the significance of the regional cooperation today and and in the future, as well as that the 18 states should cherish it as the best recommendation for the overall progress, especially in the process of integration and the shortest way to a common European future. He reiterated the conviction that that Montenegro will continue to be dedicated to the realisation of the CEI goals in all areas in the future. 

Montenegrin Minister of Foreign affairs met with the Italian colleague Franco Frattini at the margins of the meeting. They spoke about the CEI regional dialogue, bilateral cooperation and European and Euro-Atlantic integrations. In this context, they positively evaluated the contribution of Montenegrin presidency to the CEI, as well as its active participation in other regional processes.

In the wake of the Ministerial meeting, a Meeting of the Committee of National Coordinators was also held.