Name: Central European Initiative
	Acronym: CEI
	Year of foundation: Quadrilateral (1989); CEI (1992)
	Headquarters: Trieste, Italy
	CEI documents: go to page
	CEI official web site: go to page
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	CEI Parliamentary Assembly

Description

The Central European Initiative (CEI) is a regional forum created with the aim to foster the integration of former Soviet ‘satellites’ in the European and Western European co-operation frameworks.

Member states

CEI has  19 member states, namely:

   Austria         Yugoslavia            Bosnia and Herzegovina       Romania

   Hungary       Czech Republic      Albania                              Ukraine

   Italy            Poland                  Belarus                              Serbia

  Croatia          Macedonia           Bulgaria                              Montenegro

  Slovenia        Slovakia                Moldova

History

After the fall of the Berlin Wall the need to reorganize the European relations led Italy to propose a ‘Quadrilateral’ initiative (1989), an axis of permanent co-operation with Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. The dissolution of the USSR and the outbreak of war in Belgrade, however, created an opportunity to redefine the co-operation framework of the dialogue, which became ‘Pentagonal’ with the accession of Czechoslovakia (1990) and then ‘Hexagonal’ with the entry of Poland (1991), launching in July 1992 in Vienna the Central European Initiative (CEI). Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro have gradually joined the organisation.

The CEI played a key role in promoting transition to democracy and a market economy in most of its Member States. Support to the transition process was based on the coordination of policies and the implementation of joint projects in co-operation with enterprises, international agencies and banks. After the enlargement, the organisation committed itself to strengthening the solidarity between EU and non-EU members, particularly in terms of technology transfers, and to supporting the consolidation of political and economic structures of those states waiting to join it. In light of this, initiatives for promoting good governance and the protection of ethnic minorities in the Balkan area have increased. The CEI has also encouraged the involvement of civil society in its initiatives, aiming to ensure pluralism and transparency of information in the field of co-operation with the media.

Over the years, the Central European forum has certainly gained some influence thanks to the support of regional and international bodies, especially the EU, which has provided the CEI with expertise, information and funding.

CEI structure and decision-making procedures

The Summit of the Heads of State or Government

The Conference is the highest-level body of the CEI. The rulers meet anunually, defining the guidelines of the dialogue process.

The Conference of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs

The Foreign Ministers also meet annually to address CEI organisational and financial issues.   

The Committee of National Coordinators (CNC)

The Committee is responsible for the operational management of the organisation and carries out the task of preparing the agenda of political meetings, implementing the programmes approved, thus ensuring an effective synergy between the sectoral working groups and the national administrators.   

The Executive Secretariat (CEI-ES)

Established in 1996 in Trieste, the Secretariat has the function to provide administrative support to the decision-making structures of the organisation and take initiatives contributing to the achievement of its objectives.

The Secretariat for CEI Projects (CEI-PS)

Created in 1993 in the EBRD headquarters in London, this Secretariat has the aim of verifying the financial feasibility of co-operation proposals.   

The Networks of Focal Points

The Networks are working bodies which consist of ministerial representatives responsible for proposing and assessing the co-operation activities and collaborating in defining new strategies.

The Parliamentary Assembly

Created in 1999, the Assembly consists of representatives of the national legislative assemblies. It meets annually and issues opinions and recommendations to governments.

The Central European Chambers of Commerce Initiative (CECCI)

The business dimension is the third pillar of the CEI. In this framework, representatives of national Chambers of Commerce regularly meet to strengthen relations with public administrations and private sectors for project implementation.   

Decision-making within CEI

The decisions within the CEI are taken by consensus as a general rule. Questions arising under procedural matters shall be decided by a simple majority of Member States.