Croatia will focus on boosting economic, energy and infrastructure cooperation as it assumes the rotating presidency of the Three Seas Initiative, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on April 29 during the initiative’s summit and business forum in Warsaw.

The Three Seas Initiative (3SI), launched by Croatia and Poland in 2015, brings together 13 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas to foster regional development, connectivity and resilience. The bloc has gained geo-strategic relevance amid ongoing global and regional energy and security challenges.

“As Croatia takes over the chairmanship of the initiative, we look forward to hosting the summit and business forum next year,” Plenković told the gathering. “Our main priorities will be to strengthen economic and energy cooperation and strengthen infrastructure connectivity across the Baltic-Adriatic-Black Sea region.”

Plenković highlighted the economic importance of the initiative for Croatia, noting that in 2024, 35% of the country’s total foreign trade – worth €22.8bn – was conducted with fellow 3SI countries. “This is not just a strategic platform, it’s an economic necessity,” he said.

The prime minister also highlighted the need for improved financing of cross-border projects and stronger parliamentary cooperation among member states.

Croatia plans to continue developing its role as a regional energy hub, with a focus on expanding the capacity of its LNG terminal on the island of Krk to 6.1bn cubic metres per year.

With this expansion, “Croatia will be able to supply gas to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, thus becoming a regional energy hub,” Plenkovic said.

The summit also saw an expansion of the 3SI’s network. Montenegro and Albania will join as associate members, alongside Moldova and Ukraine, while Turkey and Spain are becoming new strategic partners.

"This shows how vital the Initiative is, and the strong presence of the US is also important," said Plenković. 

The Three Seas Initiative was first proposed by then-presidents Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of Croatia and Andrzej Duda of Poland. Plenković praised their vision, saying the project has outgrown its original aims and now plays a key role in bridging development gaps within the EU.

“In light of the numerous global challenges, this meeting has a special political and geostrategic significance,” he said.

Croatia will officially take over the presidency from Poland on Tuesday, April 29, and is set to host the next summit and economic forum in 2025.