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.

H. Res. 672 In the House of Representatives, U. S., November 18, 2020. Whereas, in 2015, 12 Central and European nations of the European Union established the Three Seas Initiative to increase energy, infrastructure, and digital communica- tions autonomy and resilience through support of collec- tive 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 Initia- tive’s effort at the July 2017 Warsaw summit; Whereas, in February 2020, the Secretary of State an- nounced a United States commitment of up to $1,000,000,000 in financing for Three Seas Initiative countries to promote energy security and economic growth; Whereas the Three Seas Initiative will advance economic growth, resilience, transport and digital connectivity, and energy security in this strategic region, thereby increas- ing the national security of the United States; Whereas the President of the European Commission recog- nized the Three Seas Initiative as a ‘‘catalyst for the co- hesion and convergence of the EU and for the strength- ening of the transatlantic link’’; 2 •HRES 672 EH Whereas Soviet-imposed communist rule in Central and East- ern Europe left the region with a significant infrastruc- ture deficit, especially in the realm of north-south trans- portation and energy lines; Whereas the current state of infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe nations restricts energy, water, and tele- communications interconnectivity across the region; Whereas the infrastructure deficit leaves these nations overly dependent on Russia for their energy and additional eco- nomic 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 the Three Seas Initiative provides a positive alter- native for financing for transport, energy and digital connectivity projects in the Three Seas region to China’s 17+1 and Belt and Road Initiatives, which have exported corruption, debt traps, and poor labor and environmental standards; 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-bor- der interconnections; 3 •HRES 672 EH Whereas members of the Three Seas Initiative have also prioritized key digital infrastructure and transportation projects to support modern and vibrant economies includ- ing 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, That the House of Representatives— (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 undi- vided, secure, prosperous, and free; (2) encourages Three Seas Initiative nations to take action on joint financing of projects to strengthen en- ergy, infrastructure, and digital communications projects in Central and Eastern Europe, including through na- tional contributions to the Three Seas Initiative Infra- structure Fund; (3) reaffirms the authority of the President under the Build Act of 2018 (division F of Public Law 115– 254) to provide United States financing to the Three Seas Initiative and its projects in cases that advance na- tional economic or foreign policy interests of the United States and would produce significant developmental out- 4 •HRES 672 EH comes or provide developmental benefits to the poorest population; (4) reaffirms the authority of the United States International Development Finance Corporation under the European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019 (title XX of division P of Public Law 116–94) to provide support for the Three Seas Initiative and its en- ergy infrastructure projects in countries with upper-mid- dle-income or high-income economies in cases described in paragraph (3) or if such support is necessary to pre- empt or counter efforts by a strategic competitor of the United States to secure significant political or economic leverage or acquire national security-sensitive tech- nologies or infrastructure in a country that is an ally or partner of the United States; (5) encourages the Three Seas Initiative member nations to boost cross-border cooperation and financing on diversification of energy sources, including clean en- ergy sources and infrastructure; (6) encourages Three Seas Initiative nations to ex- tend this vision of enhanced regional infrastructural connectivity to non-European Union member states in the Three Seas region, including Ukraine, Moldova, and those in the Western Balkans; and 5 •HRES 672 EH (7) strongly condemns any efforts of Russia to weaponize energy as a means to put pressure on or to undermine liberty and democracy in Europe. Attest: Clerk.