AII Secretary General attending CEI Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Trieste – 11-12 June 2019
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CEI Member States held their annual meeting in Trieste (Italy) on June 11th-12th 2019 under the Italian CEI Presidency. The gathering - entitled Central European Initiative at thirty and towards the future: common vision, shared values, European standards, strong regional cooperation - was chaired by H.E. Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.
Security, fight against corruption, sustainable development, stronger infrastructure and energy sector connections were the topics discussed during the meeting.
AII Secretary General, Ambassador Castellaneta, stressed that the AII as well as the “EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region”, clearly share the same objectives as the Central European Initiative, namely to facilitate the integration process and to promote economic growth and prosperity in the region through concrete cooperation activities. “The AII, which will turn 20 years old next year, will continue to foster cooperation and synergies among our Participating Countries in topics which are the future of the Adriatic and Ionian Region, such as Blue Growth, Infrastructures and Connections, Sustainable Environment and Culture, but also anti-corruption, youth policies, and migration and the protection of unaccompanied children” said Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta. (full speech here).
The Meeting witnessed the adoption of the Trieste Declaration, including specific areas for further cooperation. In particular, two salient initiatives upon which to follow up were agreed upon, i.e. a possible establishment of a CEI Local Dimension; and development of a “CEI Agenda for the Youth”. Furthermore, the Trieste Declaration welcomes the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the CEI and the AII.