26 November 2025, Belgrade – The State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sergiu Mihov, took part in the meeting of foreign ministers of the member states of the Central European Initiative (CEI), organized by the Serbian Chairmanship-in-Office.
The meeting was held under the theme “Strengthening the CEI region through connectivity, innovation, and integration”, addressing the role of the organization in supporting candidate states in the process of alignment with European standards.
CEI member states reaffirmed the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and acknowledged the value of projects implemented under the auspices of the CEI, which contribute to economic development, as well as digital, energy and transport connectivity within the region. Officials welcomed the progress made by candidate countries in 2025 and encouraged maintaining this momentum, emphasizing that EU enlargement remains a strategic investment in peace, security, and development for the whole of Europe and its neighborhood.
In his remarks, Sergiu Mihov reconfirmed the firm commitment of the Republic of Moldova to advance on the path of European integration through the implementation of reforms. The State Secretary highlighted progress in the field of digital transformation, the modernization of economic infrastructure, and integration into European energy and transport networks — essential elements for Moldova’s integration into the EU Single Market.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a Joint Declaration, through which member states expressed their support for the continuation of CEI activities aimed at facilitating European integration processes and strengthening the relationship between candidate states and the EU.
The event also marked the end of Serbia’s mandate as CEI Chairmanship-in-Office, a role that will be taken over by Romania in 2026.
Note: The Central European Initiative is one of the most extensive regional cooperation platforms, bringing together 16 states (9 EU members and 7 candidate countries). Participating states: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Ukraine and Hungary. The CEI promotes political, economic, cultural and scientific cooperation, with its main mission being to support the European integration of its member states. The Republic of Moldova held the Chairmanship-in-Office of the organization in 2023.
