Dubrovnik is hosting the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) Summit, with a Bulgarian delegation, led by Ambassador to Croatia Iva Kruleva, also attending. The city has implemented special traffic regulations to manage the influx of guests, as the tourism season is underway. The airport anticipates arrivals from both tourists and summit attendees, with police managing traffic flow and advising residents of potential congestion.
High-profile media coverage is also anticipated due to the expected attendance of numerous high-ranking officials. The 3SI functions as a platform for political and economic cooperation among thirteen EU Member States situated between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas: Bulgaria, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Key strategic partners include Germany, the European Commission, the United States, Japan, Spain, and Turkiye, while Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and Montenegro are associate members.
The core objective of the initiative is to enhance regional connectivity through investments in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure. Launched in 2016 by Croatia and Poland, the 2026 summit aims to strengthen regional resilience and digital transformation by linking the 3SI nations to global corridors, such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and the Middle Corridor. Romana Vlahutin, Croatia’s national coordinator for the 3SI, noted that while East-West connections have seen development, North-South connectivity has been less addressed.
She stated that Croatia is taking a leading role by convening European and global business leaders to pool resources for connectivity projects. With participants from 45 countries expected, the event is positioned as more than a regional or European undertaking. Political attendees are expected to include heads of state and government from Austria, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Montenegro, Czechia, and Ukraine.
Topics: #summit #participants #three
It’s interesting to see Dubrovnik hosting such a major international summit while also managing its peak tourism season.
What is the primary focus or set of goals for the Three Seas Initiative Summit?