Factbox:
Three Seas Initiative
The Three Seas Initiative (3SI), also known as the Baltic, Adriatic, Black Sea Initiative, is a regional forum of thirteen European Union states along a north-south axis from the Baltic to the Adriatic and Black Seas. Launched in 2015 by Polish President Andrzej Duda and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the initiative promotes economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and energy security among Central and Eastern European nations.
- 2016 – The first summit in Dubrovnik, Croatia. 12 founding members: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
- 2022 – Ukraine became a partner-participant at the Riga summit.
- 2023 – Greece joined as a member, and Moldova became a partner-participant.
Economic & Strategic Significance:
- Covers 29% of the EU’s territory and 25% of its population (~110 million people).
- Produces €2.3 trillion in GDP (1/7 of the EU’s total).
Milestones
- 2016 (Dubrovnik, Croatia) – Launched with a focus on economic cooperation, energy security, and infrastructure development.
- 2017 (Warsaw, Poland) – U.S. President Donald Trump attended; the Three Seas Business Forum was established.
- 2018 (Bucharest, Romania) – Approved key interconnection projects in transport, energy, and digital sectors. The Three Seas Investment Fund (3SIIF) was proposed.
Major Infrastructure Projects
- Via Carpathia – A north-south highway linking Klaipėda (Lithuania) to Thessaloniki (Greece).
- LNG Infrastructure – Terminals in Poland and Croatia with a connecting pipeline.
- Rail Corridors – Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, Via Baltica, Rail Baltica, and Amber Rail Freight Corridor.
- Rail-2-Sea – A railway linking Gdańsk (Poland) to Constanța (Romania).
Investment Fund (3SIIF)
- Founded in 2019 by Poland and Romania with an initial €500 million commitment.
- Seeks to raise €3-5 billion, targeting infrastructure projects worth up to €100 billion.
- U.S. pledged $1 billion in 2020 (investment not completed).
- By 2023, fund assets were €900 million, managed in collaboration with Amber Infrastructure Group.
Ukraine’s Role
- Initially excluded as a non-EU member but cooperated on the Via Carpathia highway and E-40 waterway project.
- Following Russia’s 2022 invasion, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for Ukraine’s inclusion.
- June 2022 (Riga Summit) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the forum via video, securing partner-participant status.
Geopolitical Implications
- Strengthens regional energy independence from Russia.
- Enhances EU-NATO cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe.
- Serves as a counterbalance to Russian and Chinese influence, particularly regarding China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The Three Seas Initiative continues to evolve as a critical economic and geopolitical framework for European integration, energy security, and strategic connectivity in the region.
