A public hearing on the Three Seas Initiative (3SI)—a cooperation platform of the presidents of thirteen countries located between the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas, whose goal is to strengthen the cohesion of the European Union by enhancing infrastructure, energy, and economic cooperation among the countries of Central Europe. The event, organized by PiS MEP Arkadiusz Mularczyk, was attended by scholars, experts, journalists, and diplomats, who focused on discussing the achievements and prospects of the 3SI.
Arkadiusz Mularczyk noted that Central Europe has developed dynamically in recent decades. As he emphasized, in order to maintain the pace of development toward a highly innovative, interconnected, and resilient region, greater emphasis must be placed on regional cooperation. “That is why the goal of the conference is to present the 3SI concept, which will allow us to overcome these challenges and strengthen the EU,” he noted.
He noted that the Three Seas Initiative has an excellent track record in establishing connectivity and can therefore set such ambitious goals for itself. “Connectivity is the main reason for the Three Seas Initiative’s success and will also be the foundation of its future success,” the MEP stated. He recalled that the 3SI was established nearly a decade ago and has expanded to include 13 member states and 4 strategic partners, with Japan joining this year. He noted that the Initiative has attracted the interest of neighboring countries, which also participate in the Three Seas Initiative summits and are currently seeking to join it.
“The potential of the Three Seas Initiative is clear to everyone, and the importance of effectively connecting countries is obvious. Beyond its original goals—namely, the development of transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure, it aims to leverage connectivity to foster broader economic growth, enhance regional defense and security, engage in geopolitics, and enable member states to develop closer relationships around the world,” he noted.
The MEP highlighted the importance of the strategic partnership with the U.S., which—through the participation of American companies in 3SI summits and business forums, as well as the establishment of bilateral cooperation between American companies and high-ranking representatives from 3SI countries— highlights the 3SI’s potential on the world stage. “In addition to the benefits in trade relations with our global strategic partners, the 3SI has also gained a global platform. The goal must be to develop further global partnerships with North America, Asia, and other parts of the world,” he argued.
“Although the U.S. and Japan play an important role as global partners of the Three Seas Initiative in expanding its reach, we must not forget that the European Commission and Germany are also key strategic partners of this initiative and recognize its potential as well,” the Polish politician noted.
Mularczyk announced that in 2025, the Three Seas Initiative summit will be held in Poland, marking the 10th anniversary of its founding. He also recalled that the Initiative was established to eliminate the marked imbalances in Europe’s development. “To continue eliminating these imbalances in Central Europe, we must join forces with countries such as Ukraine and Moldova and allow them to benefit from the 3SI, as this has helped other countries that were formally under Soviet control,” — urged the event organizer. He added that, in addition to connectivity, another key concept must be introduced to guide the 3SI: resilience. He also stated that annual 3SI summits and regular Three Seas Business Forums are essential.
The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) is a unique format for regional cooperation among thirteen EU member states in Central Europe. The 3SI focuses on improving connectivity between the north and south of the eastern EU, primarily through the development of transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure. It also aims to strengthen the region’s resilience by ensuring secure supply chains and developing better access to regional ports and connections with the EU’s eastern neighbors. Until now, geographical and infrastructural conditions have hindered the region from realizing its full potential to strengthen the EU’s economy and innovation. Four strategic partners are participating in 3SI: the European Commission, the United States, Germany, and Japan. Two countries have the status of associated participants in 3SI: Ukraine and Moldova.
