Carpathian States Launch Regional Initiative

Austria, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine have agreed to establish the Carpathian Integration Initiative, a regional platform aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation, security and sustainable development across the Carpathian region.

The declaration, adopted at the Carpathian Integration Initiative Summit on Sept. 18, calls for annual summits and cooperation among national governments, regional and local authorities, European Union institutions and other international partners. The initiative will build on existing frameworks, including the Carpathian Convention, the Carpathian Euroregion, EU Interreg programs and the Three Seas Initiative.

The participating countries identified energy resilience, transport connectivity, environmental protection, emergency preparedness and economic development as key areas for joint action. Priorities include modernizing energy and border infrastructure, expanding renewable energy and storage capacity, protecting biodiversity, preventing floods and developing sustainable tourism and cultural projects.

The declaration also highlights the initiative’s potential to support EU candidate countries in adopting the bloc’s rules and gradually integrating with European structures. Participants said they would explore the development of a broader EU macro-regional strategy for the Carpathian region, while supporting cooperation involving governments, businesses, civil society, universities and local communities.