The Three Seas Initiative (3SI), launched in 2015 by Poland and Croatia, is a strategically significant format of regional cooperation, encompassing thirteen European Union member states located in Central Europe. This format, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, represents an ambitious response to the long-standing developmental disparities within the European continent[1].
The primary goal of the initiative is to systematically reduce the economic gap between Eastern and Western Europe by intensifying regional trade, supporting sustainable economic growth, and diversifying energy supply sources, with an emphasis on breaking free from the dominant influences of the Russian Federation. Poland, as a co-initiator and active promoter of the project, aspires to a role of regional leadership, strategically strengthening its position within the European Union structures and on the international stage.
From a historical perspective, Central Europe has been characterized by infrastructural deficits and structural economic inequalities compared to the western part of the continent. Despite political integration within the EU and NATO, outdated infrastructure, often built during the times of the Soviet Union, and systems vulnerable to manipulation, particularly in the energy sector, have continued to pose significant challenges. The Three Seas Initiative, in analytical terms, represents a proactive strategy to transform these weaknesses into strengths. Through the planned expansion of modern, cross-border networks in the energy, transport, and digital technology sectors, 3SI aims to create an internal market that generates growth impulses for regional economies, particularly in the agri-food, manufacturing, and tourism sectors. Poland’s strategic location at the center of the Three Seas region generates the potential to transform the country into a key transit hub, benefiting from the intensification of trade flows and the development of advanced logistics services.
However, the Three Seas Initiative extends beyond strictly infrastructural projects, serving also as a significant instrument of foreign policy with a strategic dimension. Diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on Russian raw materials, building regional resilience to price shocks, promoting energy transformation towards green energy, and strengthening intra-regional trade – all these elements form a comprehensive strategy to enhance Central Europe’s position in the global competition for influence. Analytically speaking, the consolidation of the Three Seas region and the strengthening of its collective voice in the EU and NATO are fundamental to building a new quality in European politics. Coordinated actions within 3SI aim to increase the effectiveness of lobbying in Brussels and attract strategic investments from new directions, alternative to traditional funding sources. Poland, aware of the geopolitical challenges in the region, treats 3SI as a key instrument for strengthening its own and regional security, which aligns with its strategic national interests. „Today, the Three Seas Initiative area is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, with a projected GDP growth of 35% by 2030. Thanks to this cooperation, strategic transport routes are being created, such as Via Baltica, Rail Baltica, and Via Carpatia – corridors connecting Central Europe with the rest of the continent and forming a gateway for investments from the Middle East and Africa,” as emphasized by President Andrzej Duda during his February speech in Dubai[2]. Poland, due to its central location, benefits from the intensification of trade and the development of advanced logistics.
Key Priorities of the Three Seas Initiative:
- Energy Security: Flagship projects such as the Polish Baltic Pipe, the Croatian LNG terminal Krk, and the Polish-Lithuanian gas pipeline GIPL are tangible evidence of the region’s determination to diversify energy supplies and create regional energy hubs. These projects offer a real alternative to transit routes with heightened risk and support the stabilization of energy markets. The accession of Greece, with the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative, further strengthens the region’s energy security. The Baltic Pipe, completed in 2022 and crucial for Poland, reduces dependence on gas imports from the Russian Federation.
- Transport: Infrastructure projects such as the Via Carpatia highway, connecting Lithuania with Greece, and Rail Baltica, a high-speed railway line connecting the Baltic states with Poland and further south in Europe, represent a breakthrough in the modernization of the region’s infrastructure. These projects replace post-Soviet communication systems and create new trade arteries. These initiatives generate tangible benefits for the agriculture and industry sectors, streamlining supply chains, reducing logistics costs, and stimulating tourism development by improving the region’s accessibility. Via Carpatia and Rail Baltica are projects of not only regional but also national importance for Poland, strengthening territorial cohesion and integration with the European transport network, facilitating the flow of goods and people.
- Digital Innovation: 3SI emphasizes digital development through the expansion of 5G networks, strengthening cybersecurity, and creating a unified digital market. Leveraging the potential of the region’s digital leaders, such as Estonia, the initiative aims to raise the level of digitization across Central Europe. Digital modernization is crucial for increasing economic competitiveness and enhancing the region’s attractiveness for future investments. Poland’s participation in the digital pillar of 3SI is fundamental to modernizing the country’s digital infrastructure and reducing the digital gap with Western Europe, strengthening Poland’s economic position in the digital age. The current discussion about Poland’s role in the context of developing national artificial intelligence and digitizing public administration shows that the topic is politically significant, although this does not translate into increased funding to support individual projects.
For Poland, as a co-founder of the format, 3SI holds particular significance. Poland benefits from expanded transport and energy infrastructure, supporting its own economic modernization and consolidating its role as a key transit hub. In strategic terms, 3SI aligns with Poland’s goals in regional security and energy source diversification. Similarly, for other Central European countries, 3SI offers tools to overcome historical developmental inequalities, modernize infrastructure, and strengthen sovereignty within an integrated and resilient region. Additionally, improved infrastructure and the development of digital networks align with NATO’s goals in strengthening the eastern flank and increasing the ability to respond to security challenges.
It is worth noting that in the 10 years of its existence, the Three Seas Initiative has managed to achieve a number of its assumed goals, as evidenced by the summit organized annually in various countries, attracting increasing interest from local businesses. Last year, the Business Forum in Lithuania was attended by over 900 entrepreneurs, while two years ago in Romania, that number reached 1200. The initiative also gains support from partners around the world, as evidenced by Japan’s joining as a strategic partner last year. An important element of 3SI activities is the development and implementation of the List of Priority Interconnection Projects, which aim to strengthen infrastructure in the Central European region[3].
The Three Seas Initiative’s successes to date include gaining strategic partners such as the USA, Germany, the European Commission, and Japan, creating the joint stock exchange index CEEplus, which gathers over 100 of the largest companies from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary, as well as establishing the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund and Innovation Fund. Work is currently underway to create a successor to the Investment Fund [4].
Securing adequate funding for multi-billion-dollar projects and overcoming political disagreements between member states remain key challenges. The war in Ukraine has given the Initiative new momentum, making the integration of Ukrainian infrastructure with the EU a priority. However, this requires additional financial resources and appropriate coordination between countries. Importantly, the United States consistently supports 3SI, seeing it as an instrument to counter Russian influence, Chinese capital involvement in the region, and strengthen transatlantic ties, while declaring significant financial support. The European Union recognizes the potential for 3SI to complement its own goals, but there are concerns about potential competition between individual projects.
In summary, the Three Seas Initiative goes beyond the definition of a regional project, representing a vision of a new, stronger, more independent, and integrated Europe. By eliminating critical infrastructural gaps, supporting regional solidarity, and generating tangible economic, energy, and geopolitical benefits, 3SI actively contributes to reducing the historical division of the continent and building a safer and more influential Europe in a complex international environment. Poland, as the driving force of the initiative, is a key beneficiary and architect of this process of transforming the European landscape.
More information about the Three Seas Initiative can be found on the website of the 3SI Research Center at the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences: https://trojmorze.isppan.waw.pl/
[1] Members of the Three Seas Initiative Research Center at the Institute of Political Studies, Basic Information, https://3si.politic.edu.pl/basic-information/ (access 07.03.25).
[2] President.pl, In April the Summit of the Three Seas Initiative will take place in Warsaw, https://www.president.pl/news/in-april-the-summit-of-the-three-seas-initiative-will-take-place-in-warsaw,97703 (access 07.03.25).
[3] Members of the Three Seas Initiative Research Center at the Institute of Political Studies, Selected Priority Projects, https://3si.politic.edu.pl/category/selected-priority-projects/ (access 07.03.25).
[4] President.pl op.cit.
Comments are closed.