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{{short description|European forum of regional cooperation}}
{{Infobox geopolitical organisation
| name                   = '''Central European Initiative'''
| linking_name           = Central European Initiative
| image_flag             = 
| symbol_type            = Logo
| image_symbol           = Central European Initiative logo.png
| symbol_width           = 200px
| image_map              = File:CEI members 2025.svg
| image_map_size         =
| map_caption            = {{legend|#1361a9ff|Member states}}
{{legend|#89b0d5ff|Suspended member states}}
| org_type               = [[Intergovernmental organization]]
| membership_type        = Membership
| membership             = {{Collapsible list|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 |title = 17 member states<ref>{{cite web |title=Member States |url=https://www.cei.int/member-states |website=CEI |publisher=CENTRAL EUROPEAN INITIATIVE |access-date=10 September 2025}}</ref>
 |{{flag|Albania|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Hungary|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Romania|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Belarus|name=Belarus ''(suspended)''|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Italy|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Serbia|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Moldova|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Slovakia|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Bulgaria|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Montenegro|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Slovenia|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Croatia|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|North Macedonia|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Ukraine|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Czech Republic|size=23px}}
 |{{flag|Poland|size=23px}}
 }}
| admin_center_type      = Headquarters
| admin_center           = [[Trieste]], [[Italy]]
| languages_type         = Working languages
| languages              =
| leader_title1          = Secretary general
| leader_name1           = Franco Dal Mas<ref>{{cite web |title=Secretary General |url=https://www.cei.int/SecretaryGeneral |website=CEI |publisher=CENTRAL EUROPEAN INITIATIVE |access-date=10 September 2025}}</ref>
| leader_title2          =
| leader_name2           =
| leader_title3          =
| leader_name3           =
| established_event1     = Founded
| established_date1      = 1989
| established_event2     =
| established_date2      =
| established_event3     =
| established_date3      =
| area_km2               =
| area_sq_mi             =
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| HDI                    =
| HDI_year               =
| official_website       = http://www.cei.int/
| footnotes              =
}}

The '''Central European Initiative''' ('''CEI''') is a forum of regional cooperation in [[Central and Eastern Europe]], counting 17 member states. It was formed in [[Budapest]] in 1989. The body was developed on the basis of earlier experiences with [[The Alps-Adriatic Working Group]].<ref name="Subregional">{{cite book |author1= |author2= |editor= Andrew Cottey |url= |date=1999 |title=Subregional Cooperation in the New Europe |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan|Palgrave]] |isbn=978-1-349-27196-2 |page=113 }}</ref> The CEI headquarters have been in [[Trieste]], Italy, since 1996.<ref name=":1" />

==History==
The '''Central European Initiative''' or '''CEI''', is the largest and oldest forum of regional cooperation in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. It now counts 17 member states, based on region and democratic values: [[Albania]], [[Belarus]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Croatia]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]], [[Italy]], [[Moldova]], [[Montenegro]], [[North Macedonia]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Ukraine]].<ref name=":0" /> The origin of the Central European Initiative lies in the creation of what was then known as the Quadragonale in [[Budapest]] on 11 November 1989 whose founding members were Italy, Austria, Hungary and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Cremasco|first=Maurizio| title= From the Quadrangolare to the Centreal European Initiative |date=May 29, 1992 |url=https://www.iai.it/sites/default/files/iai9213.pdf |journal=Istituto Affari Internarionali  |pages=1-8 }}</ref> The conjunction with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]] was a coincidence, yet the CEI has been involved in democratizing Eastern European countries after the Soviet Bloc dissolved.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |last=Cviic |first=Christopher |title=The Central European Initiative |date=1999 |work=Subregional Cooperation in the New Europe: Building Security, Prosperity and Solidarity from the Barents to the Black Sea |pages=113–127 |editor-last=Cottey |editor-first=Andrew |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-27194-8_7 |access-date=2024-11-07 |place=London |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-349-27194-8_7 |isbn=978-1-349-27194-8|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The Initiative aimed at overcoming the division in blocks by re-establishing cooperation links, among countries of different political orientations and economic structures. This was largely headed by Italy, who at the time, wanted greater involvement in supporting Eastern European countries in order to rival a newly reunited Germany.<ref name=":1" />

At the first Summit in [[Venice]] in 1990, [[Czechoslovakia]] was admitted and the Initiative was renamed Pentagonale. In 1991, with the admission of Poland it became the Hexagonale.

The organization was renamed Central European Initiative (CEI) from the Hexagonale in 1992, and has held the name since. On the same occasion, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia were admitted as member states.<ref name=":0" /> That year, Yugoslavia's recognition ceased, due to a violent break ups of the nation and the recognition of Croatia and Slovakia as independent nations. The Czech Republic and Slovakia were admitted to the CEI in 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. In 1996, Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine joined the CEI as full-fledged members.<ref name=":1" />

In recent years the CEI has focused on expanding healthcare access within its 17 member states. It has partnered with the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) to focus on preventing unwanted consequences from the pandemic and the sharing of health information.<ref name=":2" /> They have met regularly since this partnership was founded in June of 2022, with the most recent meeting happening November 2024. In the latest meeting, the organizations focused on health in the Western Balkans, implementing focus on integration following the EU model.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=WHO joins forces with 17 central European countries to step up tailored COVID-19 response |url=https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/05-06-2020-who-joins-forces-with-17-central-european-countries-to-step-up-tailored-covid-19-response |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=www.who.int |language=en}}</ref>

== Structures ==
The structure of the CEI is unique, with changing staff, headquarters or budget. It operates through regular forums, usually held in November that invite senior officials and politicians. There are 5 regular meetings, 
* Heads of State/Government Meeting (annually, in the autumn);
* Parliamentary Dimension (the CEI Parliamentary Committee which meets in the spring and the CEI Parliamentary Conference which meets in the autumn);
* Foreign Ministers Meeting (annually, in the spring, but Foreign Ministers also attend and take part in the Heads of Government meeting);
* Special Meetings of Sectoral Ministers;
* Meetings of the Committee of National Coordinators (monthly)<ref name=":1" />

One member state of the CEI takes on the role of the presidency each year, leading forums and meetings.<ref name=":1" /> In 1995, the Heads of Government meeting adopted an official documentation of the rules, guidelines and definition of the CEI. "forum for cooperation in the region' which 'does not replace other, bilateral and multilateral channels of cooperation, neither affects the commitments of the Member States resulting of their respective international agreements".<ref name=":1" /> It has a "bottom-up" approach to promote regional cooperation and growth, particularly in newly democratic states.<ref name=":0" />

The CEI has a three-pillar system: It cooperates in a governmental dimension, a parliamentary dimension and a business dimension.

It promotes connectivity and diversity through 6 main areas: Good governance, economic growth, media freedom, environmental protection, intercultural cooperation and scientific cooperation/education & training. The CEI implements its activities through cooperative activities, such as Working Groups, EU-projects, Know-how exchange programme and technical cooperation with the [[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development]] (EBRD).<ref name=":1" /> Each working group is chaired by a different country and has a unique focus.<ref name=":1" /> Since 2019, Roberto Antonione (Italy) has been the secretary general.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Antonione Roberto |url=https://www.bsbf2024.org/chair-speaker/roberto-antonione/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=BSBF 2024 - Big Science Business Forum 2024 in Trieste (Italy) |language=en-US}}</ref> 

== CEI Presidencies ==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
!Year
!Country
|-
|2025
|Serbia<ref>{{Cite web |title=Serbian Presidency 2025|url=https://www.cei.int/presidency | access-date=2025-02-12 |website=www.cei.int/presidency |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2024
|Albania<ref>{{Cite web |title=Albania to Take CEI Presidency in 2024 |url=https://albaniandailynews.com/news/albania-to-take-presidency-of-cei-initiative-in-2024-1 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=ALBANIA DAILY NEWS |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|Moldova
|-
|2022
|Bulgaria
|-
|2021
|Montenegro  <small>''(due to covid related cancellation of most of the 2020 program)''</small>
|-
|2020
|Montenegro
|-
|2019
|Italy
|-
|2018
|Croatia
|-
|2017
|Belarus
|-
|2016
|Bosnia and Herzegovina
|-
|2015
|Macedonia
|-
|2014
|Austria
|-
|2013
|Hungary
|-
|2012
|Ukraine
|-
|2011
|Serbia
|-
|2010
|Montenegro
|-
|2009
|Romania
|-
|2008
|Moldova
|-
|2007
|Bulgaria
|-
|2006
|Albania
|-
|2005
|Slovakia
|-
|2004
|Slovenia
|-
|2003
|Poland
|-
|2002
|Macedonia
|-
|2001
|Italy
|-
|2000
|Hungary
|-
|1999
|Czech Republic
|-
|1998
|Croatia
|-
|1997
|Bosnia and Herzegovina
|-
|1996
|Austria
|-
|1995
|Poland
|-
|1994
|Italy
|-
|1993
|Hungary
|-
|1992
|Austria
|-
|1991
|Yugoslavia
|-
|1990
|Italy
|-
|1989
|Hungary
|}

==Membership==

'''Founding members''':
* {{flagcountry|Austria}} (1989-2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cei.int/news/8336/cei-summit-successfully-held-in-zagreb|title=CEI Summit successfully held in Zagreb|date=2018-05-12|access-date=2019-05-28|publisher=Central European Initiative}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Hungary}} ([[Hungarian People's Republic|1989]]) 
* {{flagcountry|Italy}} (1989) 
* ''{{flagcountry|Yugoslavia|name=SFR Yugoslavia}}'' (1989–1992)

'''Joined later''':
* {{flagdeco|Czechoslovakia}} ''[[Czech and Slovak Federal Republic|Czechoslovakia]]'' (1990–1992)
* {{flagcountry|Poland}} (1991) 
* {{flagdeco|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992}} [[Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (1992) → {{flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
* {{flagcountry|Croatia}} (1992) 
* {{flagcountry|Slovenia}} (1992) 
* {{flagcountry|Czech Republic}} (1993) 
* {{flagcountry|Republic of Macedonia|1992}} (1993) → {{flagcountry|North Macedonia}}
* {{flagcountry|Slovakia}} (1993) 
* {{flagcountry|Albania}} (1995)
* {{flagcountry|Belarus}} (1995) (suspended)
* {{flagcountry|Bulgaria}} (1995)
* {{flagcountry|Romania}} (1995) 
* {{flagcountry|Ukraine}} (1995)
* {{flagcountry|Moldova}} (1996)
* {{flag|Serbia and Montenegro|name=FR Yugoslavia}} (2000) → {{flag|Serbia and Montenegro}} → {{flagcountry|Serbia}}
* {{flagcountry|Montenegro}} (2006)

==See also==
* [[Central Europe]]
* [[Craiova Group|Craiova Group]]
* [[Open Balkan]]
* [[Southeastern Europe]]
* [[Southeast European Cooperation Process]] (SEECP)
* [[Central European Free Trade Agreement]] (CEFTA)
* [[Southeast European Cooperative Initiative]] (SECI)
* [[Black Sea Economic Co-operation]] (BSEC)
* [[Regional Cooperation Council]] (RCC)
* [[Visegrád Group]] (V4)
* [[Three Seas Initiative]] (TSI)
* [[Group of Nine]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Central European Initiative}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cei.int/}}
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->

{{Regional organizations}}
{{Foreign relations of Yugoslavia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Central European intergovernmental organizations]]
[[Category:Aftermath of the Revolutions of 1989]]
[[Category:Trieste]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Albania]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Austria]]
[[Category:Multilateral relations of Belarus]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Croatia]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Czechoslovakia]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Hungary]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Italy]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Moldova]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Montenegro]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of North Macedonia]]
[[Category:Multilateral relations of Poland]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Romania]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Serbia]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Slovenia]]
[[Category:Multilateral relations of Ukraine]]