Zelensky: Carpathian region could become an energy supplier for the EU
At the Carpathian Economic Forum, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Carpathian region could supply electricity to the EU, helping reduce dependence on Russia. The forum gathered about 1,400 participants from 25 countries and presented investment projects worth over €42.5 billion.
Speaking at the first Carpathian Economic Forum held in Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said countries of the Carpathian region have significant potential for cooperation in the energy sector. According to him, the region could become more than just a transit zone — it could become a genuine electricity supplier to the European Union, strengthening energy independence from Russia.
Zelensky pointed to several avenues for achieving this: solar and wind power, energy storage technologies, new grid interconnectors, and the region's large underground gas storage facilities. He also proposed creating a 1.5-gigawatt Carpathian wind energy cluster.
Large investment portfolio
The forum brought together roughly 1,400 participants from 25 countries, with nearly 400 companies from all Carpathian Eight nations presenting their businesses. According to Ukraine's presidential office, the forum's investment portfolio includes 95 projects worth more than €42.5 billion across energy, industry, innovative technologies and logistics. Of these, 55 projects worth €8 billion relate to Ukraine's Carpathian region specifically.
Zelensky noted that energy accounts for roughly half of the entire investment portfolio and should become one of the Carpathian region's main contributions to Europe. Given Russia's aggressive policy, he stressed the need to attract more investment and strengthen the region through better infrastructure, including roads, railways and ports.
The forum runs from September 18 to 20. A day earlier, Zelensky announced a new cooperation format called the "Carpathian Eight," bringing together Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Hungary and the EU. Following their first meeting, the countries adopted a declaration of intent to develop cooperation, including holding annual summits and strengthening the region's energy resilience.
