CEI presidency held by Moldova enables it to promote projects for its development

The Central European Initiative decided to channel its available funds mainly into non-EU member countries, and funding for Moldova, of course, will be regarded as a priority, stated Pietro Ercole Ago, CEI Director General, at a news conference in Chisinau. The main goal of CEI is not to cover a project entirely, but to provide partial funding and assist the applying country in finding partners, said Pietro Ercole Ago. The capacity of current CEI president offers Moldova the opportunity to promote projects for its development. The CEI presidency has come to Moldova in a very important moment for the organisation, which is now under reformation. While in the beginning the organisation had only two EU member states – Italy and Austria, today it has nine, Pietro Ercole Ago mentioned. Valeriu Ostalep, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, stated for his part that the status of CEI president represents an additional opportunity for Moldova to profit from the experience of the organisation in approaching the EU. Pietro Ercole Ago visited Chisinau to discuss with the Moldovan authorities the CEI agenda as well as projects to be launched this year. Moldova is member of the Central European Initiative since 1996.