Three Seas Initiative
Three Seas Initiative | |
|---|---|
| Membership | |
| Establishment | 2016 |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,218,975 km2 (470,649 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 112,194,126 |
The Three Seas Initiative, also known as the Baltic, Adriatic, Black Sea (BABS) Initiative, is a forum of European Union countries in Eastern and Central Europe. It aims to create a North-South dialogue on a variety of questions affecting the member states. The initiative primarily consists of former eastern bloc countries and met for its first summit in Dubrovnik in 2016.
Description
The Three Seas Initiative has 12 member countries along a north-south axis from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea: [1] Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. All, except neutral Austria, are ex-communist countries.[2]
History
The initiative held its first summit in Dubrovnik on 25-26 August 2016. The two day event ended with a declaration of co-operation in economic matters, particularly in the field of energy as well as transport and communications infrastructure.[1] Polish President Andrzej Duda called the initiative "a new concept to promote Europe's unity and cohesion, it is an idea of cooperation among 12 countries located between the Adriatic, Baltic and Black Seas, the three seas of Central Europe."[3] Guest speakers included Chinese Ministerial Assistant for Foreign Affairs Liu Haixing, who talked about the interconnectedness with the New Silk Road, and former US National Security Advisor, General James L. Jones, who stressed the initiative's role in European development and security.[4][5]
The initiative's second summit was held 6-7 July 2017 in Warsaw. US President Donald Trump attended the summit.[6][7]
Summits
| Date | Location | Hosting leader | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 25-26 August 2016 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović | |
| 2nd | 6-7 July 2017 | Warsaw, Poland | Andrzej Duda | President Donald J. Trump attended |
| 3rd | 2018 | Bucharest, Romania[8] |
Other projects
The initiative is closely related to two major infrastructure projects in the region:[9]
- a North-South highway "Via Carpathia", connecting Klaipėda in Lithuania with Thessaloniki in Greece
- Liquefied natural gas infrastructure, with ocean terminals in Poland and Croatia and a connecting pipeline
See also
References
- ^ a b "Dubrovnik Forum adopts declaration called "The Three Seas Initiative"". EBL News. 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
- ^ "The Baltic-Adriatic-Black Seas Region - Visegrad Plus". Visegrad Plus - Forum for Visegrad+ studies. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
- ^ "President of the Republic of Poland / News / Minister Szczerski: Three Seas initiative to boost European unity". www.prezydent.pl. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
- ^ "The Three Seas Initiative: Central and Eastern Europe takes charge of its own destiny | Visegrád Post". visegradpost.com. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
- ^ Ansley, Rachel. "Making the Three Seas Initiative a Priority for Trump". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
- ^ "Trump trip to Poland forces 3 Seas summit change". Fox News. 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
- ^ CNBC (2017-07-04). "FACTBOX-Three Seas Initiative summit in Warsaw". Retrieved 2017-07-04.
- ^ "Romania to host in 2018 'Three Seas Initiative' Summit (sources) – AGERPRES". www.agerpres.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 2017-07-06.
- ^ "Poland hopes to tap Trump's business acumen at regional summit". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
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