Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Central European Initiative on 26 November in Belgrade

The event will bring together representatives of all 16 CEI Member States, making it one of the most significant regional gatherings of the year.

Serbia assumed the annual CEI Chairmanship on 1 January 2025 and has, in the course of its tenure, focused activities on four key priorities: supporting the process of European integration, advancing the development of artificial intelligence, strengthening regional infrastructure connectivity, and addressing issues related to labour migration.

The CEI—the oldest regional initiative in Central and South-Eastern Europe, established in 1989 by Italy, Austria, the former SFRY, and Hungary—today brings together EU Member States, Western Balkan countries, and the wider neighbourhood, fostering cooperation in the fields of economy, politics, culture, and youth programmes.

The organisation’s work in the upcoming period is guided by the 2024–2026 Action Plan, while the previous Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Tirana confirmed a set of measures aimed at further strengthening the CEI.

A particular emphasis of the Initiative continues to be placed on cooperation with the European Union and support for the European integration process, while regional, “project-oriented” cooperation remains the foundation of its activities.

The Belgrade meeting will serve as an opportunity to take stock of the results achieved during Serbia’s Chairmanship and to set new priorities for the next cycle of cooperation within the CEI.