The leaders of the 17 member states of the Central European Initiative (CEI) have confirmed a declaration calling for the need to include all CEI members in European integration processes.
The declaration was adopted on the final day of the CEI summit in the Slovenian coastal town of Portoroz.
The outgoing Slovenian Prime Minister Anton Rop, who hosted the meeting, said this year's entrance of five Central European CEI members into the EU meant there were more countries within the CEI that can help those that are bidding to join.
It is in the vital interest of the seven CEI members who are part of the EU to pass on their experiences to those countries which are trying to join the bloc, Rop said. Moreover, Rop assessed that the CEI is an excellent forum for exchanging these experiences.
This view was echoed by Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, who highlighted that the CEI is in a new position, with seven of its members already in the EU, three holding candidate status and seven implementing reforms that will lead them to EU membership in the future.
Moreover, Schuessel said the CEI's importance was augmented by the fact that Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova are its members and other countries have the possibility to help them in their transition.
In their declaration, the CEI heads of government set down that one of the priorities of the organisation in the future will be to assist those countries which have not yet gained EU candidate country status in obtaining it.
The CEI will work to prevent new gaps appearing between the members of the enlarged EU and the countries which are still outside the bloc.
The declaration, which was adopted in place of the traditional communique in order to mark the 15th anniversary of the CEI, also says that the club supports close partnership between governments, parliaments, business officials, regional organisations and the civil society in efforts aimed at taking advantage of the region's comparative advantages.
The officials also expressed support for closer economic cooperation aimed at raising trade.
The CEI heads of government also took a decision by which the seven countries that have not yet held the CEI presidency will do so after 2005.
In line with this decision, Albania will chair the organisation in 2006, followed by Belarus in 2007, Bulgaria in 2008, Moldova in 2009, Romania in 2010, Serbia-Montenegro in 2011 and Ukraine in 2012.
Another decision taken by the CEI leaders was the establishment of a CEI youth orchestra, which will get CEI funding.
The Portoroz summit was attended by the prime ministers of seven countries, with the other countries being represented by other government officials, including deputy prime ministers and ministers.
Along with Slovenia, the CEI is made up of Austria, Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and Serbia-Montenegro.
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