For the first time, the Carpathian macro-region is presenting itself as one market with one investment portfolio. And today, more than 50 agreements worth over one billion euros are prepared for signing. And this is only the starting point. Energy makes up around half of the portfolio, and this can become one of the Carpathians’ main contributions to Europe. Solar and wind energy. Energy storage. New interconnectors. Our large underground gas storage facilities. There is also a proposed Carpathian wind cluster with 1.5 gigawatts of capacity. The Carpathians can become an energy contributor to the European Union – and not only a transit region. And this directly supports Europe’s goal of energy independence from Russia. Speech at the International Economic Forum “Carpathian Integration Initiative.”