Czech Republic

Czech government could sink millions into ‘Three Seas’ waterway project

Reading Time: < 1 minute

After years of non-engagement, the outgoing Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis appears to have discovered a new-found enthusiasm for the “Three Seas Initiative” (TSI), and is set to plunge EUR 20 million into a controversial TSI project.

The TSI was created to improve connections among 12 EU member states including the Czech Republic. Poland supports the 450km Danube-Oder-Elbe water corridor to connect three rivers, but Czech opposition politicians and environmentalists have raised questions regarding the project’s economical feasibility and ecological impact.

Now, in an eleventh-hour intervention, Babis says he is considering offering state support for the project, which is linked to business associates of his ally, Czechia President Milos Zeman. Political observers say the group may be trying to push their private interests while President Zeman ails in hospital, after falling ill the day after Czechia’s 9-10 October elections, which toppled the Babis government.

Source: Euractiv

CET Editor

Recent Posts

Hungary, Slovakia resist EU’s energy, budget reforms amid growing east-west schism

Hungary and Slovakia have emerged as the most vocal opponents of two of the EU’s…

4 days ago

Hungary proposes law to blacklist foreign-funded NGOs, media

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party submitted on Tuesday, 13 May a bill…

4 days ago

Centrist takes first round of Poland’s presidential election, to face nationalist in runoff vote

Centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly won in the first round of Poland’s presidential election,…

4 days ago

Dan wins Romanian presidency, calming EU fears over ultranationalist Simion

Independent pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan won Romania’s presidential election on Sunday, 18 May, defeating far-right…

4 days ago

China’s BYD makes Budapest regional HQ

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD on 15 May signed an agreement with the Hungarian…

4 days ago

Regardless of election result, Simion’s appeal to ‘left behind’ has reshaped Romanian politics – CET analysis

First they laughed off George Simion as a fringe agitator. Now, with a commanding first-round…

1 week ago