The Joint Strategy for the post-COVID-19 pandemic is the result of a virtual summit of the Central European Initiative (CEI) member states. Solidarity constitutes the core of the declaration adopted today by the Central Europe member states. During the meeting of the prime ministers and ministers representing the Initiative member states, Poland was represented by the Deputy President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Development Jadwiga Emilewicz.

The joint statement adopted by the Central European Initiative countries emphasises pan-European unity, solidarity, and determination as the foundations of a common policy. In addition to the anti-crisis measures taken by individual countries on an unprecedented scale, the joint statement will save the socio-economic order in Europe affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The joint statement reads “We commit to focusing on improving socio-economic performance, business and investment friendliness so that our economies can recover faster by strengthening trade and unobstructed flow of goods, boosting connectivity, attracting more foreign investments and tourism.”

During the discussion with the leaders of the Central Europe member states, the Deputy Prime Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz noted:

Poland's active involvement in the Central European Initiative format results from our conviction that the processes guaranteeing European unity are not yet complete. That is why regional cooperation between the EU Member States and non-EU states is so important and encouraging. Nevertheless, the coronavirus crisis has shown us that nation states always remain at the forefront of the fight against the epidemic and its consequences, as the governments of individual countries bear direct responsibility for the safety and well-being of their citizens. This makes it all the more necessary to try to show that the cooperation between European governments can also be effective and clearly change things for the better. 

Poland has declared its readiness to provide expert support in combating the economic and social consequences of the crisis and to establish development institutions such as the Polish Development Fund.

The Central European Initiative was established by Italy, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Austria in 1989 as a regional cooperation format.

Currently, the CEI includes 17 member states. The member states include: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Italy, and Hungary.

The Central European Initiative’s mission is to carry out political, economic, cultural, and scientific cooperation between the member states. In addition, the Central European Initiative aims to link the function in macro-regions such as the following regions: Baltic, Danube, Adriatic, and Black Sea. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central European Initiative launched a call for proposals for awarding small grants to support educational, medical and SME development projects.