iconannual 2015 - The European Business and Investment Magazine

Central European Initiative
MINISTERS for Foreign Affairs Meeting,
Vienna, 3 June 2014
G. Hrebicek, M. Westfaelt
Foto: CEI
Foto: Mahmoud Ashraf
As of 2007 the KEP has also been financed by Austria
through an agreement with the Austrian Development
Agency (ADA): it has so far committed around €730.000
for 26 projects. Poland has also contributed with €50.000
to projects co-financed together with Italy.
The list of instruments for institutional and socio-economic
development continues with our support
to small projects such as seminars, workshops, conferences,
trainings, etc. bringing together the peoples of
the region through the CEI Cooperation Fund, to which
all Member States contribute. 879 events and activities
in various areas of interest have been co-financed so far
with more than €8 million out of this fund.
To achieve the objectives outlined in its multi-annual
Plan of Action, the CEI is also promoting
high-quality, result-oriented projects by participating
in EU-funded programmes. We are proud of our
records: 29 EU-funded projects since 2004, 23 implemented,
6 under implementation, where the CEI operates
both as Lead Partner and as a reliable, effective
partner in key sectors of transnational cooperation, e.g.
transport, science and innovation, renewable energy,
cultural heritage, capacity building. This operational
participation in the implementation of the EU policies
is also the mainstream of our concrete ties with the
European Commission as mandated by our Foreign Ministers.
The CEI Science and Technology Network and relations
with universities are also proven effective tools
for promoting regional cooperation in the academic
and scientific fields. The contacts established over the
years with renowned universities and Centres of Excellence
of the entire region are contributing to fostering
mobility of scientists, professors and graduate and
post-graduate students as well as to the development of
tangible programes and projects. Through these exchanges
the CEI has given its contribution to the development
of a strong knowledge-based society, which is one
of the main objectives of Horizon 2020.
This CEI expertise in the implementation of transnational
projects is also very important in view of pursuing
the goals of the EU macro-regional strategies and
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