116th CONGRESS 1st Session |
Expressing support of the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to increase energy independence and infrastructure connectivity thereby strengthening the United States and European national security.
October 31, 2019
Ms. Kaptur (for herself, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Keating, Mr. Sires, Mr. Pence, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Costa, Mr. Rooney of Florida, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Harris, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Heck, Mr. Turner, Mr. Quigley, and Mr. Price of North Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Expressing support of the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to increase energy independence and infrastructure connectivity thereby strengthening the United States and European national security.
Whereas, in 2015, 12 Central and European nations of the European Union established the Three Seas Initiative to increase energy autonomy and resilience through support of collective financing for new infrastructure projects to connect the region between the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas;
Whereas the United States pledged support and willingness to serve as a steadfast partner of the Three Seas Initiative’s effort at the July 2017 Warsaw summit;
Whereas the Three Seas Initiative will advance economic growth, resilience, and energy security in this strategic region, thereby increasing the national security of the United States;
Whereas the President of the European Commission recognized the Three Seas Initiative as a “catalyst for the cohesion and convergence of the EU and for the strengthening of the transatlantic link”;
Whereas Soviet-imposed communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe left the region with a significant infrastructure deficit, especially in the realm of north-south transportation and energy lines;
Whereas the current state of infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe nations restricts energy, water, and telecommunications interconnectivity across the region;
Whereas the infrastructure deficit leaves these nations overly dependent on Russia for their energy and additional economic needs;
Whereas Russia seeks to undermine democratic institutions and liberty in Europe through hybrid means, including using energy as a tool for coercion;
Whereas Russian gas pipeline projects, such as Nord Stream II and Turk Stream, are political and seek to undermine Europe’s energy security;
Whereas diversification of energy sources and supply routes, including development of renewable energy sources and technology, is critical to bolstering energy security;
Whereas members of the Three Seas Initiative have prioritized key energy projects such as the Krk, Croatia LNG terminal, Gas Interconnector Republic of Poland-Republic of Lithuania, the Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria (BRUA) gas interconnector, and other cross-border interconnections;
Whereas members of the Three Seas Initiative have also prioritized key digital infrastructure and transportation projects to support modern and vibrant economies including the Three Seas Initiative Digital Highway, the Viking Train, the Adriatic TEN-T Core Network Corridor, and the FAIRway Danube, among others; and
Whereas the Three Seas Initiative includes vital allies of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
(1) supports the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to increase energy resilience and infrastructure connectivity across Central and Eastern Europe and to further the process of building a Europe that is undivided, secure, prosperous, and free;
(2) encourages Three Seas Initiative nations to take action on joint financing of projects to strengthen energy infrastructure projects in Central and Eastern Europe, including through national contributions to the Three Seas Initiative Infrastructure Fund;
(3) reaffirms the authority of the President under the Build Act of 2018 (division F of Public Law 115–254) to provide the United States financing to the Three Seas Initiative and its projects in cases that advance national economic or foreign policy interests of the United States and would produce significant developmental outcomes or provide developmental benefits to the poorest population;
(4) encourages the Three Seas Initiative member nations to boost cross-border cooperation and financing on diversification of energy sources, including clean energy sources and infrastructure;
(5) encourages Three Seas Initiative nations to extend this vision of enhanced regional infrastructural connectivity to non-EU member states in the Three Seas region, including Ukraine, Moldova, and those in the Western Balkans; and
(6) strongly condemns any efforts of Russia to weaponize energy as a means to put pressure on or to undermine liberty and democracy in Europe.