Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi participated in the high‑level conference held in Trieste, Italian Republic, marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI), TRIBUNA reports.

Mihai Popșoi took part in the panel discussion “Promoting the CEI Spirit: Closer Together in the Region, Stronger in Europe”, alongside his Romanian counterpart Oana Țoiu, representing Romania’s CEI Chairmanship-in-Office, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, as well as other foreign ministers from CEI member states.

In his remarks, Mihai Popșoi highlighted the role of the Central European Initiative as an important platform for regional dialogue and cooperation which, over the past three decades, has supported economic development and the European integration path of countries in the region. The Minister also emphasized the solidarity among CEI member states and the organization’s contribution to building a more united, secure Europe grounded in shared values.

“Democracies cannot stand alone – they need solidarity and cooperation to protect common values. For the Republic of Moldova, the CEI is a bridge between regional cooperation and the European project, supporting institutional modernization, alignment of legislation with EU standards, and strengthening the rule of law. Collaboration helps us implement national reforms, reinforce regional resilience, and bring our societies closer to the European future chosen by our citizens,” stated Mihai Popșoi.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that, in the current geopolitical context, the enlargement of the European Union represents a strategic choice for the stability and prosperity of the continent, and that the CEI continues to support this process through concrete projects and political dialogue among participating states, for the benefit of citizens.

The conference, organized at the initiative of Italy—host country of the CEI Executive Secretariat—and Romania, which will hold the CEI Chairmanship-in-Office in 2026, brought together foreign ministers of member states, as well as representatives of parliaments, chambers of commerce, and analytical centers.

The CEI is the largest intergovernmental forum for regional cooperation in Central and South‑Eastern Europe, bringing together 16 states: 9 EU member states and 7 candidate countries. The Republic of Moldova joined the Central European Initiative in 1996 and held the organization’s presidency in 2008 and 2023.

Moldova’s participation in the CEI provides access to regional projects, expertise, and funding for initiatives in areas such as health, entrepreneurship, digitalization, environmental protection, and more. In recent years, through the CEI Cooperation Fund and programs implemented jointly with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Moldova has benefited from the financing of 20 projects focused on strengthening institutional capacities, developing the business environment, green transition, innovation, and advancing reforms related to European integration.