Split: CEI is one of most important platforms for strengthening cooperation and integrated approach to regional issues

Split, Croatia (11 June 2018) -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Srđan Darmanović took part in today's meeting of the foreign ministers of the member countries of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in Split.

The meeting, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Marija Pejčinović Burić, was attended by CEI foreign ministers, as well as senior officials of the European Commission, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Regional Cooperation Council.

The foreign ministers exchanged views on the experiences and challenges of European integration and joint efforts to preserve regional stability.

Minister Darmanović said that all the countries in the region have undergone very challenging phases and development processes, pointing to the importance of dynamic regional cooperation based on common goals, as a way of overcoming the challenges facing the region.

"CEI, as one of the most important platforms in this respect, has confirmed its role as a mechanism for dialogue, confidence-building and an integrated approach in regional issues, providing strong support to the European integration of all the countries that are not yet in the European Union, as well as the funding of numerous, project-oriented activities," said Minister Darmanović. He also emphasised that Montenegro will continue to provide all available support to activities of importance for the realisation of common interests in the CEI region.

Senior officials from Central-European Initiative countries also discussed the European perspective of the region and the continuation of the enlargement process. The support of the EU countries for the full integration of the Western Balkan region was confirmed and it was stressed that tangible progress has been made in the previous period. The meeting also addressed he migration crisis, highlighting the need for further synchronised implementation of joint activities.

Today's meeting in Split adopted the Ministerial Communique, containing guidelines for the activities to be taken by the Initiatives and its member states.

On the sidelines of the meeting in Split, Minister Darmanović met with his Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi, with whom he exchanged views on the prospects of EU membership, current regional developments and planned activities within the Montenegrin presidency of the EU/EUSR.