Today, ten years after the adoption of the Dubrovnik Statement, Croatia again holds the presidency of the Three Seas Initiative and will host two summits:
- Parliamentary Summit of the Three Seas Initiative in Zagreb, 24–25 March, and
- Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Three Seas Initiative in Dubrovnik, 28–29 April, accompanied by a Business Forum, traditionally held alongside political meetings, reflecting the Initiative’s strong economic focus.
During its current Chairmanship of the Initiative, Croatia will focus on three key priority areas:
1) A strong, resilient, and competitive 3SI region for a stronger and more competitive EU. Joint efforts under this priority are aimed at strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of the 3SI, as a highly important component of overall EU strengthening. This includes promoting the continuation of construction and modernization of existing transport, energy, and digital infrastructure to improve connectivity between the 3SI participating states and create a North–South economic corridor. The goal is to attract investment, enhance competitiveness, and reinforce resilience of economies across Central, Eastern, and South-eastern Europe.
2) Globalizing the Initiative within a broader geopolitical context by linking it with other international strategic connectivity projects. Advancements in this area would further consolidate 3SI’s role as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, positioning the 3SI region as a central logistical and energy hub connecting the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas with Eurasian transport and energy networks. This connectivity opens new trade and investment routes, strengthens supply chain resilience, and contributes to the diversification of energy sources and transport corridors within the EU. With efficient integration into global economic corridors, such as the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, also known as “the Middle Corridor”), the Initiative can further enhance its geopolitical and economic relevance and contribute to enhanced connectivity between Europe and its eastern and southern neighbours.
3) Strengthening the transatlantic partnership, particularly in energy security and technology, in order to boost the competitiveness of regional economies. The 3SI region represents a practical bridge enabling better energy security and supply diversification as well as resilience, through strategic cooperation with transatlantic partners and investment in new technologies.