The Atlantic Council welcomes Her Excellency Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the Republic of Estonia, for a town hall discussion on “Completing Europe: Central Europe, The Three Seas Initiative and the Future of the Transatlantic Relationship.”

President Kaljulaid addresses the future of Central and Eastern Europe’s role in the transatlantic relationship, the growing economic opportunities present in that region, the important role it plays in the West’s efforts to grapple with the challenges of great power competition, and the steps that need to be taken to complete the vision of Europe that is undivided, free, and secure.

This discussion with President Kaljulaid follows US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement that the United States is prepared commit up to $1 billion to the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), an effort by twelve Central European states to accelerate the development of their region’s cross-border energy, transport and digital infrastructure – the region between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas.

The US financial offer adds significant momentum to the 3SI and its Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund being established to attract international private capital to the region. The Initiative has been endorsed diplomatically by the United States, Germany, and the European Union, among others.

President Kaljulaid will be hosting the next Three Seas Summit and Business Forum in Tallinn, Estonia on June 15-17, that will convene heads of state and other top leaders from governments, international financial organizations, and business and underscore the geopolitical and economic opportunities generated by 3SI.  The Three Seas member states are all members of the European Union and the region—with its population of 110 million and  a combined GDP of some $1.7 trillion—has emerged as a significant driver of European economic growth.