site.btaPolish President in Sofia: Three Seas Initiative Plays Key Role in Building Future Europe

Sofia, July 8 (BTA) - Polish President Andrzej Duda is adamant
that the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) plays a key role in
building future Europe and is an example to emulate.

Speaking on Thursday at the Presidential Panel of the Business
Forum held during the 3SI Summit in Sofia, Duda said: "The 3SI
is a strategic response of our region to the current challenges
stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, it serves
 to promote cohesion among nations and strengthen the
Transatlantic relationship."

He noted that the 3SI project is growing with every passing
year, with new instruments being devised to boost the region's
integration as the list of priority undertakings continues to be
 updated.

"Our economies will develop more rapidly through the 3SI," the
Polish President predicted. He cited forecasts by the World Bank
 and the International Monetary Fund, according to which GDP
growth in Central and Eastern Europe in 2022 will be between 4.1
 and 4.8 per cent. Duda expects several ambitious projects in
the field of energy, transport and digital infrastructure
throughout the 3SI region in the coming years.

"Sustainable recovery will certainly be augmented by the
effective use of EU funds, including the Recovery and Resilience
 Facility," he said. "Transformation will make reforms
sustainable over the long term."

Drawing attention to the increasing international interest in
the Initiative, the Polish leader said: "The 3SI plays a key
role in building future Europe. We have become a model for
cooperation for other regions which want integration like we do.
 Nowadays, the Initiative is an example to emulate."