Zelensky Thanks Carpathian Eight Leaders for Summit Agreements

President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the leaders of the C8 countries, businesses, and representatives of Carpathian communities for their strong participation.

He also thanked them for promising projects and agreements reached at the Carpathian Eight summit. Zelensky stated this in a Facebook post. He noted, "The first summit of the Carpathian Eight, where we launched the Carpathian Integration Initiative." Zelensky expressed hope that the EU's Carpathian macro-region remains strong and this format supports Ukraine's path to joining the European Union.

He stressed, "The potential is measured in billions of euros and mutual growth. It is important that we turn this potential into reality." Zelensky expects joint work with neighbors to continue expanding, bringing in additional resources and opportunities to support cross-border cooperation between communities. He highlighted the Carpathians' specifics, including mountain communities, mountain roads, and social and environmental challenges, many of which require resolution with neighboring countries.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said in a Facebook post that Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Serbia should scale up their cooperation. This cooperation includes attracting investment and participating in Ukraine's reconstruction. At the Carpathian Economic Forum, over 50 investment and trade projects from all C8 countries were secured. These projects, in oil and gas, energy sectors, infrastructure, and culture, are worth a combined total of over $1 billion.

Koretskyi stated the next step is to move ahead with implementation. The Carpathian Economic Forum generated investment proposals worth over €1 billion. Koretskyi said the C8 countries form an economy linked by shared production chains, energy systems, transport routes, and ties between regions and local communities. He suggested the format focus investment on developing trade and mutual investment, attracting major international capital through joint regional investment platforms, and involving C8 countries in Ukraine's recovery.

At the first Carpathian Economic Forum, President Zelenskyy said the Carpathian region has potential for energy cooperation and could become an electricity supplier to the EU, aiding energy independence from Russia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the Carpathian Eight could help Ukraine advance toward EU membership.