Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday launched the 'Carpathian Eight' regional cooperation initiative, calling for stronger transport and energy links, improved military mobility, and greater investment.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is hosting the inaugural summit of the format, known as C8, bringing together Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary, alongside the EU as a whole. In his opening speech, he emphasized the need for faster modernization of roads and railways, enhanced capacity for transporting goods, and improved military mobility to bolster defense capabilities.
Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of building more interconnectors between energy systems and urged for investment in storage facilities, renewables, critical minerals, and manufacturing cooperation. He noted that the Carpathian region already enjoys strong cross-border trade and energy links, housing Ukraine's strategic gas storage facilities, which are among Europe's largest.
He described the region as a natural European gateway for routes from the South Caucasus and Asia through the Black Sea, stating that its shared climate, infrastructure, and institutional challenges require joint action. Zelenskyy argued that while the Carpathians have often been associated with tourism and climate issues, the region should become a key driver of economic growth, investment, and energy exports.
Zelenskyy also urged the EU to assign the region a greater role in its policies and provide adequate resources for implementation. He stated that the initiative would connect neighboring regions, complementing Ukraine's cooperation with the Baltic and Nordic countries, the Danube and Black Sea regions, and the Balkans and southeastern Europe.
Following the summit, a declaration was adopted, expressing the readiness of all involved countries to establish the initiative as a platform for coordinating joint actions by states, regions, local authorities, EU institutions, and other international partners to deepen European integration. On the sidelines of the summit, Zelenskyy held discussions with Romanian President Nicusor Dan, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.