The aim of the initiative is to complete and interconnect infrastructure, ensure energy security and achieve the same quality of life as in the original EU countries. The cost of ambitious plans is estimated at an incredible 570 billion euros (14.4 trillion CZK).
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“When we joined the European Union in 2004, we focused primarily on connecting with the West. At the same time, unfortunately, we have neglected the effort to bring the states of our own region closer together, “explains Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński (PiS), who speaks for the local government on the Trojmřídy issue, in an interview with Novinky.
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Better understanding and closer cooperation between the participating states were one of the main motives of Saturday’s conference “Generation Future”, organized by the Trinity Initiative (3SI) in Warsaw.
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Paweł Jabłoński, Secretary of the Polish Government for Trivian Affairs
Photo: Mariusz Gaczyński (with author’s consent)
The cornerstones of the group were laid in 2015 by two conservative politicians: Polish President Andrzej Duda and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. From a geographical point of view, the participants also include Bulgaria, the Czechia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
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With the exception of Austria, these are countries that found themselves behind the Iron Curtain after World War II. The development of their infrastructure thus lagged behind the rest of the continent. “Traveling by road and rail here takes two to four times longer here than in the rest of the European Union,” supporters of the Trojmorries repeat.
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Former Bulgarian Minister Solomon Passy at a conference in Warsaw
But the idea of a Trinity initially aroused nervousness among European powers, with some politicians fearing that it would be another club of “Union troublemakers” that would undermine EU unity. Therefore, some countries were reluctant to actively participate in the project.
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In the future, we want to create added value for projects that we can neither finance nor organize ourselves, we need neighbors for them. That network only makes sense in a larger whole, the better we get financial investors on it. It is increasingly understood in the Czech Republic as an added value and benefit.
Jan Sechter, Deputy Czech Minister of Transport
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After assuring that the project will focus on building a cross-border infrastructure, critical voices have more or less ceased. The first more formal outlines were taken over by the Trojmoří after the summit in Ljubljana in 2019, when its only institution so far was established – the Investment Fund of the Trojmoří Initiative (3SIIF).
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Without the Trinity, the Czech Republic can remain on the tail of Europe
The originally declared goal was to collect 3 billion to 5 billion euros (76 to 127 billion CZK), which now seems unrealistic after the coronavirus crisis.
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For the first time, Czech President Miloš Zeman also took part in the summit in Ljubljana
Photo: Nik Jevšnik, STA
The Ambassador Initiative does not lack ambition. Its fund should participate in infrastructure projects worth a total of up to 100 billion euros (CZK 2.5 trillion), while the total financial need is estimated at 570 billion (CZK 14.4 trillion). In addition to EU resources, Jabłoński wants to rely on state contributions and private investment. The US also promised to invest one billion dollars in the fund.
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Only then did we understand that if we did not take part in such initiatives, we would be the periphery.
Jan Sechter, Deputy Minister of Transport
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The Czech government has so far been reluctant about the Trinity, which did not change until President Miloš Zeman attended the Ljubljana summit two years ago.
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“Only then did we understand that if we did not take part in such initiatives, we would be the periphery (EU),” Deputy Minister of Transport Jan Sechter, who has
in charge of Czech cooperation within the Trojmoří.
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| Flagship projects of the Trinity Initiative: |
| The north-south highway Via Carpathia leading from Klaipeda, Lithuania, to Thessaloniki, Greece. |
| Liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure – gas pipelines connecting terminals in Poland and Croatia. |
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However, whether the Czechia will also start contributing to the Trojmoří investment fund remains open. Andrej Babiš’s cabinet (YES) should definitely cut the situation next week.
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“In the future, we want to create added value for projects that we can neither finance nor organize ourselves, we need neighbors for them. That network only makes sense in a larger whole, the better we get financial investors on it. It is increasingly understood in the Czech Republic as an added value and benefit, “thinks Sechter.
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Entering the Trojmoří project would condemn us to the position of obedient executors of the will of the Polish Conservatives.
Mikuláš Peksa (Pirates), MEP
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The question remains whether the Czech government is even able to use billions of euros from the fund. Of the 81 prepared projects that can be traced on the Trojmoří website, the Czechs have registered only one – the megalomaniacal vision of the Czech president for the interstate “Danube-Odra-Elbe (DOL) Water Corridor”). This is despite the fact that the Czechia itself does not yet send anything to the fund.
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However, Czech scientists have repeatedly warned that the construction of the corridor will irreversibly devastate the environment.
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The pirates have a contradiction in their attitude towards the Trinity
As far as politicians are concerned, opinions differ on our involvement in the Trinity.
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The KSČM evaluates the Trinity, which is unnerved by the support from the United States. “We consider the Trinity to be an effort by the USA to promote its energy and military interests in Europe,” the executive committee of the Central Committee decided at the time of last year’s visit of the then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
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However, this position seems somewhat confusing in the context of a recent statement by party chairman Vojtech Filip, who in a interview for Právo introduced the Trinity as a possible alternative to the EU, should the Communists succeed in holding a referendum to leave the Union.
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Pirate MEP Mikuláš Peksa would not enter the Trojmoří
Photo: Petr Hloušek, Právo
They also have an unclear position in the Pirate Party.
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“I see the Trojmoří project as an effort by Polish conservative politicians to set themselves hostile to Russia and Germany,” MEP Mikuláš Peksa, who had previously written about the Trojmoří on Facebook, answered it as a “imperial dream”.
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The Trinity is an important initiative. The strategic and infrastructural connection north-south on the eastern border of the EU is in the Czech interest.
Alexandr Vondra (ODS), MEP
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“Entering the Trojmoří project would condemn us to the position of obedient executors of the will of the Polish Conservatives. With regard to their medieval views on women, national minorities, same-sex couples and their destructive behavior towards the environment and climate, I perceive a similar policy as completely inappropriate for the Czech nation and its liberal traditions, “says Peksa.
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However, his party colleague Jan Lipavský, who is one of the candidates of the PirSTAN coalition for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, does not agree with this. “So far, I have not noticed that the Trinity is aimed at Germany,” he told the News.
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Jan Lipavský would support the entry into the Trinity (Pirates)
Photo: Czech Pirate Party
Involvement of the Czech Republic in the Trojmoří infrastructure fund would welcome. “The problem is, however, that we have signed up for the Danube-Oder Elbe project. I would rather perceive the Czech role as an investor and contributor than that we will draw some money. This will allow us to influence events in the region, which is key to our security, ”criticizes Lipavský.
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Peks’s argument is also rejected by ODS deputy chairman and Alexandr Vondra MEP. “It’s communicated with Germany. He is not against it. As for Russia, I am surprised that Mr Peksa repeats the rhetoric of Kremlin propaganda, “he wrote to Novinky.
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It also supports financial involvement in the Trojmoří project. “The Trinity is an important initiative. The strategic and infrastructural connection north-south on the eastern border of the EU is in the Czech interest, “Vondra counteres.
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