Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, 21 April 2026. The Secretary General of the CIHEAM, Teodoro Miano, spoke today on the occasion of the 65th General Assembly of the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in South Eastern Europe (SWG RRD). This participation marks a new step in bringing closer the Euro-Mediterranean area and the Balkans, around a shared ambition: to strengthen agricultural, rural and territorial cooperation in response to contemporary challenges.

Giving substance to the Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2026

In his address, Mr Miano recalled the strategic significance of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Paris last February between the CIHEAM and SWG RRD, in the presence of the CIHEAM President Frida Krifca and SWG RRD Secretary General Boban Ilic. Concluded for a period of five years, this agreement aims to intensify joint actions in the fields of agriculture, rural and economic development, environmental protection, as well as food safety and quality. By combining the CIHEAM’s long-standing expertise in the Mediterranean with the SWG RRD’s regional anchoring in South Eastern Europe, this partnership seeks to structure a genuine knowledge hub, serving rural territories, innovation and public policies.

Among the priorities reaffirmed during this General Assembly is the deepening of ties between the CIHEAM and the countries of the Balkans. The SWG RRD is expected to play a coordinating platform role in order to facilitate this dynamic of integration and multilateral cooperation. This orientation is rooted in a historical continuity. From its establishment in 1962, CIHEAM counted Yugoslavia among its founding member states. Today, the countries emerging from this area remain natural partners in Mediterranean dialogue.

Shared priorities for action on the ground

The two organizations emphasized their willingness to go beyond the institutional framework to deliver tangible results for rural populations. Among the envisaged areas of action are the development of scholarships for Balkan students, the creation of joint training programmes, the organisation of study visits, as well as the identification and implementation of transnational projects. Particular attention will be given to youth, rural entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment, considered essential drivers for transforming local economies.

At the end of his intervention, Teodoro Miano recalled the significance of this transregional cooperation: “The enlargement of CIHEAM to the Balkans is not only a growth in numbers; it is a growth in our collective strength and our shared hope for a prosperous, sustainable and peaceful region.”

Through this partnership, the CIHEAM reaffirms its role as a bridge between neighbouring regions, serving shared prosperity, food security and a field-based diplomacy grounded in knowledge and cooperation.