Stronger co-operation between the CEE countries is crucial for economic growth. The Three Seas Initiative was established to create a platform for the CEE region’s integration with the EU as a whole. Its objectives are to strengthen political ties, facilitate cross-border co-operation and enable large, pan-regional projects which will stimulate sustainable economic growth. The Three Seas area covers 12 EU member states which are all situated between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas. They account for 28% of the EU’s territory and 22% of its population, but only 10% of its GDP.
Discussions about how to strengthen the economy have focused on the need to improve the infrastructure of the entire CEE region. One of the major areas of focus is the strengthening of the north-south transport infrastructure links. Central Europe has the most of the necessary east-west connections but improving the north-south links will be vital for balanced regional economic growth.
This report is our contribution to the ongoing debate of what is needed to deliver future transport infrastructure for CEE. Here we consider what has already been done in the region to improve transport connectivity, what more should be happening and how it can be delivered both practically and financially.