The Eighth Summit of the Three Seas Initiative took place on September 6-7 in Bucharest. The slogan of this year’s summit was “Together we are stronger”, which means emphasizing security issues in regional cooperation. The most important point of the summit was Greece’s joining the Three Seas Initiative countries. During the event, the creation of the Three Seas Innovation Fund was also announced – another financial instrument under the TSI. At the request of Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, steps were also taken to create an association of entrepreneurs and employers that would represent their interests.
In addition to representatives of the countries associated in the Initiative, the meeting was also attended by representatives of the USA, Japan, Great Britain and European institutions. The President of Ukraine, associated with the Three Seas Initiative, also remotely connected with the summit participants. The event was also attended by representatives of organizations such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Commission, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
During the Bucharest summit, much attention was paid to issues related to transport infrastructure. The particular importance of two projects was emphasized: the Rail-2-Sea railway connection from Gdańsk to Constanta and the Via Carpatia road connection. Both of these projects will significantly improve communication on the north-south axis and will have a real impact on the economic growth of individual regions. It was noted that there is a need for greater involvement in the development of infrastructure, both in the private and public sectors.
The Three Seas Initiative summit is another important point in the ongoing cooperation. The next summit will be held in Lithuania.
Source: Polish Institute of International Affairs, www.pism.pl
Main photo source: Marek Borawski, KPRP.
