Zelensky says EU Carpathian macro-region holds billions of euros in potential as first C8 summit wraps up
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the EU's Carpathian macro-region has economic potential worth billions of euros and announced the launch of the Carpathian Integration Initiative at the first Carpathian Eight (C8) summit. He thanked C8 leaders, businesses, and Ukrainian Carpathian communities for their participation and pledged additional resources to support cross-border cooperation. According to Zelensky, agreements worth one billion euros will be signed at the summit's economic track.
Key points
- First Carpathian Eight (C8) summit held; Carpathian Integration Initiative launched at the event.
- President Zelensky said the EU's Carpathian macro-region has economic potential worth billions of euros.
- Zelensky thanked C8 leaders, businesses, and Ukrainian Carpathian communities for participation and projects.
- Ukraine committed additional forces and capabilities to support cross-border community cooperation.
- Agreements worth one billion euros to be signed on the economic track of the C8 summit.
- Summit began on 18 September in the Prykarpattia region of Ukraine.
Why it matters
The summit frames the Carpathian region as a multi-billion-euro economic zone within the EU's broader neighbourhood, and the new Carpathian Integration Initiative gives that framing an institutional vehicle. Ukraine's pledge of additional resources signals it intends to be the driving partner in that cooperation, not just a participant.
What happened
The first Carpathian Eight (C8) summit opened on 18 September in Ukraine's Prykarpattia region. President Volodymyr Zelensky used the closing remarks to announce that the Carpathian Integration Initiative had been launched at the meeting and to set out its economic stakes. He told attendees that the EU's Carpathian macro-region holds economic potential worth billions of euros and that agreements worth one billion euros would be signed on the summit's economic track. Zelensky thanked the leaders of C8 countries, business representatives, and Ukrainian Carpathian communities for their participation, projects, and agreements, and said Ukraine would engage additional forces and capabilities to support cross-border cooperation between communities.