Plenković: Germany has nothing against the Three Seas Initiative

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that Germany does not stand against the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), rejecting claims about divisions within the European Union and pointing out that any doubts from earlier years have been overcome today.

“As for Western countries, we made an effort to make Italy a strategic partner. If Italy did not want to contribute and participate, it would not be here. Germany is certainly not against 3SI. Helga Schmid was here, a long-time international official - and now ambassador for global affairs at their foreign ministry - so - one of Germany's most experienced diplomats. Her messages were very constructive. I think that today no one articulates these a priori gaps that may have existed 10 years ago,” said Andrej Plenković.

The Three Seas Initiative was launched in 2016 with the aim of strengthening infrastructure, energy and transport connections between the 13 EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe. Initially, some Western European countries, especially Germany, expressed reservations, primarily due to fears that the initiative could create parallel political blocs within the Union or weaken existing decision-making mechanisms. Additional doubts stemmed from the strong American support for the project, which some European actors interpreted as an attempt at geopolitical positioning in the region.

Plenković pointed out that such interpretations have no basis today and that 3SI fits into the existing European cooperation framework.

“It is normal that these subgroups exist, Benelux has been meeting for 100 years. No one is limiting anyone here,” he said, adding that initiatives like 3SI or the Visegrad Group make sense in connecting countries with similar interests.

Speaking about the development of the initiative itself, the Prime Minister emphasized that for now we are not moving towards stronger institutionalization, but rather concrete projects and financing models.

“After the presidential elections in 2020, Zoran Milanović exempted himself from this initiative and we, as the Government, stepped in to preserve the image and engagement of Croatia. Along with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, I am the only one who was prime minister. All the others are presidents. As they have less authority, they are not in a position to go into stronger institutionalization,” he said.

“We believe that at this moment we should focus on three types of project financing. The first is to rely on sources from the European budget. Two trillion euros is the proposed budget for the period from 2028 to 2034. The second pillar is competitiveness, where we should work together to secure funds for projects that strengthen the energy and transport infrastructure. The third is attracting private investors and capital, this is where the greatest potential lies,” he said.

"Public opinion on nuclear energy is changing"

He also referred to the issue of nuclear energy, pointing out that this topic is reopening in Europe in the context of energy security and climate goals.

“The debate on the use of nuclear energy is slowly being put into a reasonable framework. Nuclear energy leaves no carbon footprint, which is very important in the context of those who warn about the effects of climate change. It is important for our energy mix. You see the experience of Lithuania, after shutting down their nuclear power plant, they are constantly struggling with how to replace the amount of energy,” Plenković said.

He reminded that Croatia is a co-owner of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant and that it already has many years of experience in the use of nuclear energy.

“Croatia is a country that has a nuclear power plant, we are 50 percent co-owners, its lifespan is until 2043, and experts believe that, if it is well maintained, it can be extended until 2063,” he said.

He added that the Government monitors the development of new projects, especially in cooperation with Slovenia.

“In the communication with Slovenia, we said that we are open to new investments since the country is in the process of building the Krško 2 NPP. We would like to participate in it on the basis that exists today, and if not, there are other options,” he pointed out.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the legislative framework that opens up space for the further development of nuclear energy in Croatia.

“That is why we adopted the Law on the Use of Nuclear Energy for Civil Purposes in Parliament, and I think that our public is gradually becoming more aware of this topic. The opinion is changing, today when you talk to the leaders of the countries that gave up nuclear energy about 15 years ago - they are not really convinced that those decisions were correct,” Plenković said.

In conclusion, he said that through energy diversification, including nuclear energy, Croatia wants to ensure long-term supply stability and greater resistance to global disruptions.

"The opposition's false narrative about the Constitutional Court"

The Prime Minister also commented on the positions of the Social Democratic Party and the Možemo! Party regarding the election of constitutional judges and non-participation in voting, and allegations of Croatian Democratic Union ultimatums and blackmail.

“That narrative is not only false, but also stupid. You have to be stupid to believe those theses. It is necessary to explain to people what it is about. Last year, the same city of Zagreb and the Government organized the same reception for the same national team, only then it was silver, and today it is bronze. Practically with the same performers. One year he can, the other he can't. That doesn't work, I don't know who it can be sold to. Totally irrelevant. Watch this, then it is a reason for the Social Democratic Party to withdraw from the discussion on the election of constitutional judges. There is no such thing in kindergarten. My four-year-old Ivan would be a better negotiator,” said the Prime Minister.

Source: HRT