State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Rastislav Chovanec represented the Slovak Republic at the ministerial meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI), where he highlighted the enlargement of the European Union as a key process for ensuring stability, security and prosperity for candidate countries, as well as for the whole of Europe.
"Regional cooperation remains the basis for supporting enlargement, strengthening solidarity and managing economic transformation. In this sense, the Central European Initiative provides an effective and irreplaceable platform," said Chovanec.
The CEI meeting was dedicated to the main topic "Strengthening the Central European Initiative region through connectivity, innovation and integration". Representatives of the CEI member states agreed on the need to further strengthen the functioning of the initiative as a tool for regional cooperation, especially in the area of supporting the European integration efforts of the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries, supporting Ukraine and addressing current security, economic and social challenges.
"The Slovak Republic has long advocated for the European Union's enlargement policy to become more strategic, predictable and effective, with a stronger political dimension to the accession process," said the State Secretary of Slovak Diplomacy. At the meeting, he emphasized the importance of regional connectivity and the need for investments in the modernization of transport infrastructure, building energy connections, along with the development of smart mobility solutions that connect the European Union with the Western Balkans, as well as with Moldova and Ukraine.
Source: TASR
