Dear Friends,

Since the introduction of our new website, we have received positive comments not only from Europe but also from the rest of the world, in particular the United States. We are also encouraged by the impressive number of new visitors. Your favourable reactions show us that we are on the right track in enhancing our user-friendly and up-to-date database. As of today, we have introduced an additional instrument of information, our Electronic Newsletter, which will be sent to you on a regular basis. The newsletter will provide concise information on our activities. We hope you will find it useful.

April is an important month for our organisation:

The International Expert Group on the Strengthening of the CEI, under the chairmanship of Hon. Roberto Antonione, will meet in Vienna on 15 April followed by a meeting of our Board, the Committee of National Coordinators, on 16 April.

Moreover, the CEI will give an input to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and will be represented at the Danube Strategy Conference on 20 April in Vienna.

With warm regards,

Ambassador Gerhard Pfanzelter

 Call for Applications: CEI Fellowship for Writers in Residence (deadline, 1 June 2010)

Awarded by the Central European Initiative in co-operation with the Slovene Writers’ Association, the CEI Fellowship for Writers in Residence aims at encouraging cross-border cooperation and promotion in the field of literature for young writers from non-EU Central European countries. The winner will receive a cash award of 5,000 EUR for a three-month stay a CEI Member State.

 Call for Applications: CEI Research Fellowship Programme - CERES (deadline, 31 May 2010)

11 post-doctoral fellowships will be made available in the context of the CERES Programme promoted by the CEI through its Executive Secretariat in cooperation with 5 Programme Partners. The programme is supported through the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (Marie Curie Actions).

 Conclusion of PORTRAIN Project: Know – how Exchange between Italy and Albania on Ensuring Adequate Levels of Safety in Port Infrastructure

The know-how transfer between the Port of Venice (Italy) and the Port of Durres (Albania), within the PORTRAIN project was successfully concluded last month with a final conference in Tirana.

 CEI Delivers Experience at Regional Conference in Trento on EU Instrument: European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation

On the occasion of the Regional Conference on “The Governance of Cross-border Territories: Models and Ideas for the Brenner Area” held in Trento (Italy) on 22 March, the CEI-ES was invited to exchange views on its experience on one of its priority areas of intervention, cross-border cooperation.

 Secretary General in Gorizia on Role of CEI in Adriatic - Balkan Region

CEI Secretary General, Amb. Gerhard Pfanzelter, addressed the conference on the Development Scenarios of the Adriatic-Balkan Region (Gorizia, 8 March 2010). In outlining the CEI role in the Region, Amb. Pfanzelter emphasized the need to create a wide cooperation network between Adriatic and Balkan countries, in line with the EU policies.

 First Meeting of International Group of Experts (IGE) on Strengthening CEI

On 8 March 2010, Trieste, the newly established International Group of Experts on the Strengthening of the CEI, formally approved at the Committee of National Coordinators meeting held in Kolašin (Montenegro) on 18 February, gathered for its first meeting.

 13 Joint Programmes Approved within CEI University Network Call for Proposals 2009

Among the 30 proposals submitted within the CEI UniNet Call for Proposals launched in September 2009, 13 post-graduate level courses have been selected: 7 Summer Schools, 2 PhD courses, 2 Seminars, 1 Master’s course and 1 Workshop.

 Upcoming events:

Fri, 16 April, 2010 / CNC Meeting, Vienna (Austria)

Mon, 26 April, 2010 / CEI Parliamentary Committee: Role of the Parliaments in Combating Organized Crime and Corruption – Challenges, Cetinje (Montenegro)

Mon, 26 April, 2010 / Ministers of Transport Meeting “Multi-modal Transport in CEI Countries”, Kolasin (Montenegro)

Mon, 10 May, 2010 / Meeting of CEI Ministers of Environment on “Combating Climate Change” Budva (Montenegro)

Thu, 20 May, 2010 / CEI Dubrovnik Diplomatic Forum, Dubrovnik (Croatia)

Fri, 21 May, 2010 / CEI Steering Committee Meeting, London (UK)

Fri, 21 May, 2010 / CNC Meeting, London (UK)

For further information: Central European Inititive