Klaus Werner Iohannis, President of Romania

The President of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis, brings out that in the current global context the Three Seas Initiative could play an important role in dealing with the post pandemic recovery.

Statement by H.E. Mr. Klaus Werner Iohannis, the President of Romania,
on the Three Seas Initiative

The Three Seas Initiative responds to the shared interest of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe for more rapid economic development, with a focus on increasing connectivity in three main fields, namely transport, energy, digital, in order to reach the expected levels of convergence with the rest of the European Union.

In the current global context marked by the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 sanitary crisis, the Three Seas Initiative could become an important instrument in dealing with the post pandemic recovery of the region, through its positive contribution to the implementation of major connectivity projects and the facilitation of cooperation between our business communities.

I am confident that the Summit in Tallinn will continue the path of implementation of the essential decisions we have taken during the Three Seas Initiative Bucharest Summit in 2018, namely the implementation of the Priority Interconnection Projects we have agreed upon, the development of the network of the Chambers of Commerce from the 3SI region and the full operationalisation of the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund.

I am also confident that the 3rd Business Forum of the Three Seas Initiative, which will take place in the margins of the Tallinn Summit, will build on the previous successful editions organised in Bucharest (2018) and Ljubljana (2019).

The continuous involvement of our partner states, the United States of America and Germany, together with the European Commission and the European and international financial institutions remains of key importance for the success of the Initiative.

We should continue to look to the future through pragmatic lenses and spare no effort to enhance our connectivity hand in hand with our resilience. In this context, I would like to reassure the President of Estonia, Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, of my full support for Her Excellency’s efforts to host a successful and meaningful Three Seas Initiative Summit in Tallinn.