Estonian president attending Three Seas Initiative summit in Warsaw

TALLINN - Estonian President Alar Karis is attending the Three Seas Initiative summit in Warsaw on Monday and Tuesday, where the main goal is to improve north-south strategic connections through strong transatlantic cooperation.

Discussions also focus on enhancing the European Union's competitiveness and strengthening security. The president is accompanied by First Lady Sirje Karis.

On Tuesday, Karis will deliver remarks at the summit's economic forum, focusing on the importance of cooperation in infrastructure projects and energy security. He will also highlight how secure cross-border digital services, joint research and development initiatives, and the adoption of artificial intelligence can boost the region's competitiveness and economic growth.

At the afternoon plenary session, the president will discuss adapting infrastructure to the changing geopolitical landscape, including synchronizing electricity grids and completing the Rail Baltic railway as NATO's key transport corridor on its eastern flank. He will also address helping Ukraine reconnect with the European Union and emphasize the importance of strong transatlantic ties for increasing the region's resilience.

While in Warsaw, the Estonian head of state will meet with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Czech President Petr Pavel, and Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, the overall security situation in the region, defense spending, and the continuation of European Union enlargement.

Estonia's first lady, Sirje Karis, is to participate in a program for spouses of heads of state, attending a concert by Polish Children's Fund scholarship recipients at the Belweder Palace and visiting the Museum of King Jan III.

The Three Seas Initiative is a regional cooperation format connecting countries located between the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black seas. It originally brought together 12 European Union member states -- Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

In 2023, Greece joined, bringing the number of participating countries to 13, along with two associated participants -- Ukraine and Moldova. The initiative's strategic partners include the United States, Japan, the European Commission, and Germany. Spain and Turkey are joining as new strategic partners, and Albania and Montenegro as new regional partners.

To accelerate investment in infrastructure projects across the region, the 3SI Investment Fund was created in 2019 with a total volume of 928 million euros. A new fund is planned for the next 15 years.