Przemysław Żurawski vel Grajewski: One of the areas of cooperation within this initiative is the infrastructure used for transmission of energy sources – mostly gas. TSI could introduce American gas to a huge market with 100 million consumers. This will happen if proper infrastructure is constructed. We should remember that in the beginning the TSI was based on the so-called North-South Corridor, which will connect Poland’s LNG terminal in Świnoujście to the floating terminal on Croatia’s Krk island, which is under construction. The Constanta LNG terminal in Romania could be the third part of this infrastructural endeavor. This means the region could potentially drive out Russian gas, which so far has been its only energy source, from its territory.



The first specific action is to spend a billion dollars on financing energy infrastructure projects. This was promised by Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, during the Munich Security Conference. At first glance it doesn’t look like a lot of money, but it is a message, which says that the initiative is taking place under the US political umbrella. It makes the entire project look more serious. We should also remember that this is a message to the American business. The US government rarely makes large investments in such supra-national projects on its own. This is mostly done by private US companies. The billion dollar sends a message that this region has US support and that it is worth to invest here. This may start the snowball effect, which in time may become the driving force for more investments made by private American firms. Another element is support in the aspect of security. Americans are famous for protecting their businesses, which sometimes involves the usage of military force. The more American investments in the region, the more secure the region becomes, as it is protected from any potential invasion, e.g. from Russia. This is a very important aspect. By attracting American investments, we are attracting here – to the region of the eastern flank of NATO, the American security umbrella.



On 29 August 2019 the Energy Resources of Ukraine signed a deal with Poland’s PGNiG to supply US natural gas to Ukraine. After that, right before the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, the Polish President Andrzej Duda, the US VP Mike Pence and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen the security of regional gas supplies. This political declaration ensures a new transmission route for gas to Ukraine. Its success has been confirmed by the first delivery of American LNG to Ukraine that reached the LNG terminal in Świnoujście last November. The recent letter of intent, which has been reported on by the media, says the US will deliver about 6-8 bcm of gas a year to Ukraine via Poland. Since only EU members are allowed into the TSI, Ukraine cannot formally join the club. However, it can participate in projects pursued by the TSI. Cooperation as part of the TSI is also taking place with regard to road infrastructure and Ukraine, as a signatory of the second Łańcut declaration, is a full member of the Via Carpatia project, which is one of the flagship projects of the TSI. Thanks to Poland, this is the way in which Ukraine is able to take part in some of the TSI endeavors. This is an important factor from a political perspective because it tears Ukraine from the Russian sphere of influence.



The situation is dynamic. There is no trust between Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin. The first one is trying to protect his life and the life of his family. In case of Belarus all scenarios are on the table. Russia is embedded in Belarus a lot more than in Ukraine, this is also because of Lukashenko’s past decisions. Therefore, Moscow has more influence over this country. I believe that Belarus would be able to free itself from Russia’s grip only if there was a political implosion at the Kremlin. Nobody knows for how long Russia will be able to finance its imperial projects. We also don’t know how its imperial capacity will be affected by the coronavirus and the extremely low oil prices.

If America was determined, and if an opportunity presented itself, and if Washington noticed it, and decided that getting Belarus out of the Russian sphere of influence was a a low hanging fruit, it would be possible to take concrete actions towards Belarus. However, so far it doesn’t look like it’ll happen. America is testing various options, but Russia is still in control of the situation.



Russia’s impact in the TSI area is limited. This project includes EU member states and NATO countries – apart from Austria. The only tool that Russia has been using for centuries is political destabilization of countries it believes are its enemies. As Emperor Alexander III said “Russia has only two allies – its army and its fleet”. This means it treats the entire world as either its current or future enemy. The closer and smaller its neighbors are, the more they are treated like enemies. Therefore, attempts at destabilizing those states are part and parcel of Russian politics. This means Moscow may want to impact elections in the TSI states and try to pull individual countries away from the initiative. This will happen by propping up political movements that are against the TSI. To an extent this is what is happening in Croatia where president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who was a strong supporter of the TSI, was replaced by Zoran Milanović, who is completely opposed to it. Of course, I am not saying this happened because of Moscow, but this change is undoubtedly in line with its interests. Still, these are individual incidents and I doubt that any attempts made by Russia to impact politics in the TSI countries could be so successful that they could break the initiative up.



The goal of the New Silk Road idea wasn’t to undermine the US support for TSI. At some point China realized that its economy, which is dependent on sea transport, could be completely blocked by the US navy in case of a conflict with the USA. This is why they started to look for a way to connect with Europe via roads. However, we should appreciate the fact that CEE states have been in a close transatlantic partnership for years. The majority of TSI states constitute NATO’s eastern flank. Apart from some exceptions, nobody in this region would have a hard time picking sides between China and the US. The choice is simple – it’s the US.



I think there are two. The first one and the main one is money. After years of successful initiatives at the governmental level, we should finally start to translate political initiative to executive budgetary decisions. Now that a huge economic crisis is coming, it will be more difficult to create a fund to bankroll the TSI. This may be one of the biggest threats. The second challenge are the differences between the TSI members when it comes to their national and economic interests. The contrast between Austrian and Romanian economies is stark, just as in the case of Estonia and Bulgaria. This is why any claims that the TSI is a political project are not serious. This project is glued together with infrastructural programs and we should do whatever is in our power to implement them. The economy of the TSI’s biggest participant – Poland and the perfect Polish-American relations that attract Washington’s support to the initiative allowed us to be hopeful about TSI projects related to our country, but that was before the coronavirus pandemic started. Now this may change, but it is too early to tell what the pandemic’s economic impact will be.

Interview by Mariusz Marszałkowski

Source: biznesalert.pl

Next year’s edition of the Congress will bring together representatives of administration, business, and academia from the 13 Three Seas Initiative member states, as well as associated countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania) and strategic partners from the European Commission, the United States of America, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, Turkey, and Spain. In previous years, the Congress contributed to the establishment of the Network of the Three Seas Regions, the Three Seas Tourism Network, the Universities Network, and the Partnership of Regions for Via Carpatia.



The 6th edition of the Congress promises to be a multidimensional event, continuing proven formats while introducing new initiatives. Participants will have the opportunity to attend discussion panels, regional and cultural debates, and the Economic Forum, as well as take advantage of numerous networking opportunities such as B2B meetings, discussions, exhibition spaces, Meet & Greet sessions, and study visits.

A major new feature of next year’s edition will be the Security Forum, focused on issues related to security policy, defence, cybersecurity, and societal resilience.

The Congress will also feature a Youth Forum, providing a platform for the young generation to express their opinions and share experiences related to current trends in the labour market.

We cordially invite you to take part in the event and help shape the future of cooperation in a rapidly changing Europe. More details are available at www.congress.lubelskie.pl and on the Congress’s official social media channels.

We are meeting today to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Three Seas Initiative, an initiative that arose from the need for deeper integration, primarily economic and infrastructural, in our part of Europe—Central Europe, said the Polish president during the opening session of the Summit.

The format is now a decade old and the Three Seas Initiative has strengthened its function as one of the important tools for strengthening transatlantic relations in both the political and economic dimensions.

At the same time - as Andrzej Duda emphasised - as a project of the countries belonging to the European community, the Three Seas Initiative - also through actions aimed at deepening Euro-Atlantic relations – enriches and strengthens the European Union.

At present, the Three Seas Initiative comprises 140 priority projects, two investment funds and another in the design phase, as well as an extensive network of partnerships and many bottom-up initiatives covering regional, scientific and economic cooperation. Among the most important from the perspective of the strategic interests of the Republic of Poland are: gas interconnectors with Lithuania and Slovakia, the Via Carpatia expressway, the rail corridor of the TEN-T Baltic-Adriatic core network, Rail-2-Sea - rail connection between the ports of Gdansk and Constanta.

The summit was attended by:

• Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria; 
• Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania;
• Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia;
• Bajram Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania;
• Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic;
• Jakov Milatović, President of Montenegro;
• Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of the Republic of Latvia;
• Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary;
• Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic;
• Ilie Bolojan, acting President of Romania;
• Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia;
• Vladimir Bolea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova;
• Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine;
• Georgios Gerapetritis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic;
• Alenka Bratušek, Minister of Infrastructure of the Republic of Slovenia;
• Abdülkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye;
• Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary–General and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria;
• Fernando Sampedro Marcos, Secretary of State for the European Union in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain;
• Tommy Joyce, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of International Affairs at the US Department of Energy;
• Viktor Elbling, Ambassador of Germany to Poland;
• Akira Kono, Ambassador of Japan to Poland;
• Cristina Lobillo Borrero, Head of Energy Platform Task Force in the Directorate–General for Energy of the European Commission.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky connected with the participants online.

In the afternoon, President Andrzej Duda, at a joint press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, summed up the meeting of heads of state and government at the 10th Summit of the Three Seas Initiative. Discussions focused on future investments within the 3SI co–operation format, including the development of energy and transport infrastructure, as well as security issues for the countries in our region.

This year the cooperation format has been expanded to include new members - Albania and Montenegro joined the Three Seas Initiative in the capacity of associated participating states, while Spain and Turkey became new strategic partners.

The Summit was accompanied by a Business Forum

Joint Declaration of the 10th Summit of the Three Seas Initiative

Courtesy of: Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland (https://www.president.pl/news/the-10th-three-seas-initiative-summit,100917)

In opening Agata Dziubińska-Gawlik, President of the European Meeting Centre – Nowy Staw Foundation, emphasised that ‘we are responsible for the development of young talents and the Eastern Congress is an inspiration for young people and their development’.

On the first panel, young people had the opportunity to delve into the topic of International Meeting Centres, which play an important role in building intercultural dialogue and civil society.

Managing Director and Member of the Board of the "Krzyżowa" Foundation for European Understanding, Dr. Robert Żurek, pointed out that young people are very similar to each other, despite coming from different countries. Shorena Barbakadze, General Director of the International Language House, associate professor at Akaki Tsereteli State University in Georgia, emphasized that "The effects of international exchanges are social and personal skills, creativity, as well as the development of innovations, including technological ones."

During the second panel, participants learned about two perspectives: students’ and employers’ on combining studies and work, opportunities and challenges faced by students. In this panel, the employers' side was represented by, among others, Łukasz Stachowiak | Manager at PwC Polska, Andrii Myrovych, Team Leader PwC Polska and Magdalena Siroń, Coordinator of the Career Planning Center, University of Entrepreneurship and Administration in Lublin. The invited guests emphasized that it is worth combining studies and work. Each activity shown in the CV is to the advantage of the candidate and increases their chance of getting their dream job.

During the panel entitled "Creativity without filter - how to create content and take care of yourself on social media", participants stressed the importance of authenticity on social media, but also the need to set boundaries and take care of mental health. It is important to distinguish between constructive criticism and hate speech. Panellists highlighted the problem of FOMO and the need to find a balance between online and offline life. It was pointed out that social media can support creativity and development, but also be a source of pressure. Therefore, it is important to build a conscious approach to their use and content creation.

On the second day, young participants had the opportunity to take part in panels ‘Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The role of young people in building a safe Europe' and “#factorfake - effective tools in the fight against fake news”.

The Congress was a great opportunity for young people to gain new experience, meet new people and learn about employer expectations.

The Three Seas Congress is one of the most important events dedicated to local government cooperation, bringing together representatives of government and local administration, as well as the academic and business sectors from the Three Seas Initiative countries. Between 2020 and 2024, four editions of this prestigious event took place. It serves as a platform for ongoing discussions and agreements among local governments focusing on flagship Three Seas investments, such as the Via Carpatia route and the Three Seas Regions Network, established in Lublin. The Congress is held under the Honorary Patronage of the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda.





The panel discussion featured representatives of the authorities from five partner regions of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. The panel’s objective was to present experiences and best practices while identifying shared interests and benefits arising from regional efforts in strengthening the European Union’s security. Energy security is closely linked to consumer demand for fuel and energy. The ability to ensure a continuous supply of energy at low costs is one of the fundamental conditions for economic growth and societal well-being.

Experience to date shows that interconnected energy systems with autonomous balancing areas, which are already mutually interacting and providing reserves, serve as a strong unifying factor within the European Union. Effective solutions and regional energy policies during the EU’s energy transition should serve as a model and a priority for cooperation. This presents a significant potential for interregional collaboration, which forms the local and regional governance component of the Three Seas Initiative.



The aim of this panel was to identify areas of cooperation between EU regions and Ukrainian regions on Ukraine’s path to EU membership and to explore how European regions can support Ukrainian regions in the integration process. The partnership between regions has taken on particular importance, especially now, in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, as well as in the context of Ukraine being granted EU candidate status on June 23, 2022, during the European Council summit in Brussels. The European Union’s support for Ukraine’s accession process is not only an expression of solidarity but also an investment in regional stability and security.



Following the second panel, agreements were signed between municipalities from the Lubelskie Voivodeship and Khmelnytskyi Oblast. The partnership cooperation between the Lubelskie Voivodeship and the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council was made possible through the initiative of Marshal Jarosław Stawiarski and Head of oblast Wioleta Labaziuk. A letter of intent between the two regions was signed on December 12, 2023.

This cooperation has also created favourable conditions for establishing local government partnerships between municipalities from the Lubelskie Voivodeship and Khmelnytskyi Oblast. The following agreements were signed: - Zhvanetska Territorial Community with Hrubieszów Municipality - Narkevytska Territorial Community with Kraśnik Municipality - Krupetska Territorial Community with Tarnawatka Municipality





In the previous edition of the Congress, the Cultural Debate titled “Culture – Building Bridges Between Nations” played a significant role. The discussion focused on cultural projects that bridge national, linguistic, religious, and ideological differences, as well as on culture as a tool for regional and economic development, including tourism and business cooperation. Additionally, the debate explored culture as a pillar of identity for emigrant communities and as an instrument for promoting national traditions among other societies.

This year’s panel, in turn, examined culture as a means of promoting the region, particularly through cooperation with local governments. Panelists also presented their own ideas on how institutions can promote culture to attract younger audiences.



The cooperation within a network of open-air museums from Three Seas countries presents a great opportunity to promote cultural heritage, exchange experiences, and engage in joint promotional efforts. Open-air museums serve as living history sites that preserve traditions and national identity, strengthening regional cooperation. Panelists discussed how public perception of open-air museums has changed over the years, as well as the shift in target audiences. The discussion covered modern technological solutions, accessibility for people with disabilities, and the formalization of a Skansen Route to extend cultural engagement beyond local communities.





The Economic Forum featured panels on the internationalization of Lubelskie-based businesses, multimodal transport (cargo airports, rail, and the Via Carpatia route), and the latest innovations in nuclear energy. Business representatives had access to a B2B networking zone and exhibition stands. The participants of the event were greeted by the Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship, Jarosław Stawiarski:

-The Economic Forum complements the main Three Seas Initiative by fostering discussions on increasing integration among member states. The Three Seas formula proves that we can achieve more together. The forum shows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) how to support one another, learn from best practices, and scale their businesses locally and globally. The growth of SMEs is the driving force behind regional development. In Lubelskie, we focus on supporting SMEs and helping them expand beyond the region – Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship Jarosław Stawiarski.

Speech by MP and Former Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki:

-The Three Seas Congress is an exceptional and necessary event that allows for a deeper reflection on the initiative at the local government level. Ensuring the security of European countries, particularly Eastern Europe, is now a priority. The geopolitical shifts we are witnessing call for a renewed focus on a north-south axis of cooperation. With economic pressures from the West and China, and security threats from Russia, European nations must adopt a new strategic perspective. The Three Seas Initiative, promoted since the beginning of President Andrzej Duda’s term, is a crucial economic and security framework for the entire continent.

A new economic initiative was launched in the Lubelskie Voivodeship, with Marshal Jarosław Stawiarski and MP Mateusz Morawiecki presenting nominations to the Lubelskie Voivodeship Economic Council. This council will provide expert guidance on regional economic development, innovation, and public-private collaboration.

Appointed Members: Dr. hab. inż. Konrad Gromaszek, Lublin University of Technology, Dr. hab. Piotr Zacharczuk, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Aleksander Batorski, Lublin Conference Center, Tomasz Pitucha, Voivodeship Labor Office, Marek Neckier, Lublin Agency for Entrepreneurship Support, Rafał Langiewicz, Lublin Regional Development Fund, Magdalena Stachyra, Lublin Science and Technology Park, Grzegorz Sobolewski, Puławy Science and Technology Park, Marcin Kowalewski, Lublin Airport, Marcin Wiczuk, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, Dariusz Jedlina, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Magdalena Czelej, DAREX Shirt Manufacturer, Przemysław Chabior, FUNPARK Sp. z o.o., Daniel Ciupak, Janex Polish Grain Producer Sp. z o.o., Piotr Kalinowski, Kabako Gruppe Sp. z o.o., Mateusz Kozłowski, ERKADO Sp. z o.o., Dariusz Jeleniewski, Spiżarnia Sp.z o.o, Grażyna Skubik, Stal-Tech Sp. z o.o., Wiesław Czarnecki, Elpar Cable Factory.



The seminar was held to discuss challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lubelskie aiming for international expansion. Panelists shared strategies for entering foreign markets, tools for export growth, and available support from regional and national institutions. The session also facilitated experience-sharing among entrepreneurs to strengthen global competitiveness.



Multimodal transport integrating road, rail and air transport, is crucial for economic development of Central and Eastern Europe. An efficient transport network enables shorter delivery times, reduced logistic costs and higher investment attractiveness of the region. Given the growing demand foe efficient freight transport and the EU’s climate requirements, improving the integration of different transport modes is essential. The discussion focused on the development multimodal transport, including the completion of key investments such as Via Carpatia – an international transport corridor connecting the north and south of Europe. Its implementation will streamline the flow of goods and strengthen economic cooperation among the Three Seas countries.



In the face of growing economic challenges and increasing energy demand it is essential to seek stabile, secure and sustainable energy sources. Nuclear energy with its ability to generate large amounts of power while minimizing environmental impact, is becoming a key component of many countries’ energy strategies.



The Scientific Session began with the signing of an agreement between the Lubelskie Voivodeship and Nicolaus Copernicus University for collaboration on a project titled “Suicidology – Analysis of Knowledge and Educational Campaign”. The initiative aims to raise awareness about youth suicide prevention and develop educational programs addressing this issue.

Panels: - Panel I: Development challenges of the Three Seas Regions in the context of cooperation and threats in relations with the US, Russia and China - Panel II: Opportunities and barriers in cooperation between public and socio-economic entities on international projects - Panel III: Energy security and Three Seas cooperation in the context of access to natural resources - Panel IV: Historical and Cultural Heritage and Identity of the Three Seas Initiative Region



The Eastern Congress of Young Leaders is organised by European Meeting Centre - Nowy Staw Foundation. The event was inaugurated by PM and Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. It is and accompanying event of the Three Seas Local Government Congress. The goal of this event is to prepare young people to engage in discissions about the future of Poland, Europe and the World. The event aims to confront theoretical knowledge with real-world problems. During this event young participants witness the establishment of cooperation among organisations from various European countries.



The 5th Three Seas Local Government Congress hosted 1,500 participants from 29 countries, including 20 delegations led by regional leaders. A total of 187 speakers participated in 32 discussion panels.

Key agreements signed:

- Establishment of the Three Seas Tourism Network

- Admission of a Moldovan region to the Network of the Three Seas Regions

- Declaration on Partnership and Cooperation of the Members of the Network of the Three Seas Regions for supporting the preparation and construction of the international transport corridor Via Carpatia

- Expansion of the Three Seas University Network