«The Three Seas Initiative»: Perspectives of Energy Sector Development within the Croatian Foreign Policy
https://doi.org/10.24975/2313-8920-2019-6-1-84-91
Abstract
The article revolves around the Three Seas Initiative, a project launched in 2015 by the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Poland, aimed at the development of cooperation and international relations between its 12 member states in the sphere of energy, digitalization and transport. Special emphasis is put on the development of Croatia’s foreign policy in the energy sector within the aforementioned Initiative, which can be achieved through the country’s participation in the construction of an LNG terminal on the island of Krk in Croatia. Moreover, both positive and negative aspects of the Initiative are presented in the article, considering the fact it has attracted not only the attention of western EU countries, but also the United States and Russia. Croatia’s participation in the projects of the Three Seas Initiative as one of its founders is considered to be one of the biggest steps in the country’s recent foreign policy, and if successfully put into practice, the Initiative could provide Croatia an opportunity to strengthen its geopolitical position in Europe.
About the Author
M. Zubovic
Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Marta Zubovic
bld. 53/2, Ostogenka str., Moscow, 119992
References
1. Altaras Penda I. The Three Seas Initiative: Between Economic Diplomacy and Geopolitics. Acta Economica et Turistica. 2018;4(1):1-120 (In Cro.)
2. Bieliszczuk B. Three Seas Initiative: Benefits for Regional Gas Markets and the EU. Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych. 2017;63:1-3
3. Kurečić P. The Three Seas Initiative: geographical determinants, geopolitical foundations and prospective challenges. Hrvatski geografski glasnik. 2018;80(1):99-124
4. Tportal.hr. Pantovcak: The Three Seas Initiative is in Full Swing. URL: https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/pantovcak-inicijativa-triju-mora-u-punom-zamahu-foto-20180916 [Accessed: 27.11.2018] (In Cro.)
5. Bilali M., Osmani A. Balkan Regional Geopolitics and Gas Pipelines — Gas Pipelines in Southeast Europe. Centrum. 2016;6: 157-167
6. Samoilovskaya N.A. On the Perspectives of the Croatian initiative «Baltic-Adriatic-Black Sea». Международная аналитика. 2017; 22(4): 37-44 (In Russ.)
7. Calus K., Ciurtin H., Magheru G. The emergence of a European project Three Summits for the Three Seas Initiative. New Strategy Center and OSW, 2018. URL: https://www.newstrategycenter.ro/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/NSC_OSW_3SI_policy_paper.pdf [Accessed: 01.12.2018.]
8. The Digital 3 Seas Initiative: A Call for Cyber Upgrade of Regional Cooperation. The Kosciuszko Institute, 2018. URL: https://ik.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/white_paper_the_digital_3_seas_initiative-1.pdf [Accessed: 01.12.2018.]
9. Tportal: Grabar Kitarovic prior to the Meeting with Trump: We are not an American Trojan Horse! URL: https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/grabar-kitarovic-inicijativa-triju-mora-nije-americki-trojanski-konj-20170704 [Accessed: 01.12.2018] (In Cro.)
10. Dekanić I. The Characteristics of Energy Policy in South and Southeastern Europe. Političke analize. 2015; 6 (22): 15-21 (In Cro.)
11. Plinacro and TAP have signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Area of SE Europe. URL: http://www.plinacro.hr/default.aspx?id=336 [Accessed: 01.11.2018] (In Cro.)
12. Energetika.net. Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline and LNG Terminal on the Island of Krk — Why Not!? URL: http://www.energetika-net.com/u-fokusu/komentar-kratki-spoj/jonsko-jadranski-plinovod-i-lng-terminal-na-krku-zasto-ne-17192 [Accessed: 01.11.2018] (In Cro.)
13. Boromisa A., Kalan D. Croatia: On the Southern Flank. North-South Gas Corridor: Geopolitical Breakthrough in Central Europe, ed. Jaroslaw Cwiek-Karpowicz and Dariusz Kalan. Warsaw: The Polish Institute of International Affairs; 2013. 36-41
14. Proštenik D. DN1000/100 bar Zlobin-Omišalj Main Gas Pipeline Project. Nafta i plin. 2018;38(154):58-62
15. Balkan Insight: Croatia Opens Tender to Build Krk Gas Terminal. URL: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/croatia-opened-tender-for-krk-gas-terminal-investors [Accessed: 07.12.2018]
16. Serdarusic.com. Energy Security and Diversification: Why is it Important to Run from Monopolization — part 1. dio. URL: http://serdarusic.com/2018/11/energetska-sigurnost-konferencija-lng [Accessed: 28.11.2018] (In Cro.)
17. Reuters.com. Croatia’s Krk LNG project faces opposition as investment decision looms. URL: https://www.reuters.com/article/croatia-lng/croatias-krk-lng-project-faces-opposition-as-investment-decision-looms-idUSL8N1Q62QJ [Accessed: 28.11.2018]
18. Kočiš Z., Širović I. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) — YES, despite everything. Polimeri. 2005;26: 170-171 (In Cro.)
19. Atlantic Council: Croatian LNG Terminal: Now or Never. URL: http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/energysource/croatian-lng-terminal-now-or-never [Accessed: 28.11.2018]
20. Croatian Energy Strategy until 2020. URL: http://www.europski-fondovi.eu/content/strategija-energetskog-razvoja-republike-hrvatske-do-2020-godine [Accessed: 01.12.2018] (In Cro.)
21. LNG World News: Golar Power to provide FSRU for Croatia’s 1st LNG import project. URL: https://www.lngworldnews.com/golarpower-to-provide-fsru-for-croatias-1st-lng-import-project/ [Accessed: 01.12.2018]
22. Telegram.hr: How Croatia, because of Three Seas Initiative and the Krk LNG terminal, found itself between Germany and the USA. URL: https://www.telegram.hr/politika-kriminal/kako-se-hrvatska-zbog-inicijative-triju-mora-i-lng-terminala-na-krku-nasla-izmedu-njemacke-i-amerike/ [Accessed: 01.12.2018] (In Cro.)
23. Jutarnji.hr: Croatia’s Real Position in the Three Seas Initiative. URL: https://www.jutarnji.hr/komentari/kakva-je-doista-pozicija-rh-u-inicijativi-triju-mora/6348079/ [Accessed: 03.12.2018] (In Cro.)
24. Dnevnik.hr.: Grabar-Kitarovic in Paris: I do not know who, but someone is trying to damage my relations with the Croatian government. URL: https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/predsjednica-kolinda-grabar-kitarovic-komentirala-spor-s-vladom---537937.html [Accessed: 10.12.2018] (In Cro.)
25. NEO: The Geopolitics of Poland’s Three Seas Initiative. URL: https://journal-neo.org/2017/12/06/the-geopolitics-of-poland-s-three-seas-initiative/ [Accessed: 10.12.2018]
26. Roswall Christensen P. Euroscepticism and The Rise of Right-Wing Populism: Poland, the EU and Political Polarization. Master thesis. Aalborg: Aalborg University; 2018. 1-36.
27. Telegram.hr: Why I believe the President’s Foreign Policy is Harmful for our Position within the EU. URL: https://www.telegram.hr/politika-kriminal/zasto-smatram-da-je-vanjska-politika-predsjednice-pogubna-za-nas-polozaj-u-eu/ [Accessed: 10.12.2018] (In Cro.)
28. As a Part of the Official Visit of the Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to Russian Federation, a Russian-Croatian Economic Forum was held in Moscow. URL: http://predsjednica.hr/objava/1/1/1851 [Accessed: 10.12.2018] (In Cro.)
Review
For citations:
Zubovic M. «The Three Seas Initiative»: Perspectives of Energy Sector Development within the Croatian Foreign Policy. Post-Soviet Issues. 2019;6(1):84-91. https://doi.org/10.24975/2313-8920-2019-6-1-84-91
Views:
2446
Email this article 