Three Seas Initiative#History

The twelve Three Seas countries cover 29 per cent of the European Union's territory ({{convert|1,210,000|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}}), are home to 25 percent of the European Union's inhabitants (110{{nbsp}}million), and produce €2.3{{nbsp}}trillion or one seventh of the EU's GDP (nominal).

The Three Seas Initiative, which was influenced by the Polish interwar Intermarium concept, was launched in 2015 by Polish President Andrzej Duda and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.{{Cite web |url=https://pie.net.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PIE-Three-Seas.pdf |title=Building closer connections - The Three Seas region as an economic area |access-date=2020-08-31 |archive-date=2021-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305074203/https://pie.net.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PIE-Three-Seas.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The Initiative's first summit, held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 25–26 August 2016, ended with a declaration of economic cooperation in energy and in transport and communications infrastructures. Polish President Andrzej Duda called the initiative "a new concept to promote Europe's unity and cohesion... an idea of cooperation among 12 countries located between the Adriatic, Baltic and Black Seas, the three seas of Central Europe."{{Cite web|url=http://www.prezydent.pl/en/news/art,425,minister-szczerski-three-seas-initiative-to-boost-european-unity--.html|title=President of the Republic of Poland / News / Minister Szczerski: Three Seas initiative to boost European unity|website=Prezydent.pl|date=4 May 2017|access-date=2017-07-04}}

Guests included Chinese Ministerial Assistant for Foreign Affairs Liu Haixing, who spoke about Three Seas Initiative interconnectedness with China's Belt and Road Initiative, and former US National Security Advisor General James L. Jones, who stressed the Three Seas Initiative's role in European development and security.{{Cite web|url=https://visegradpost.com/en/2016/08/28/the-three-seas-initiative-central-and-eastern-europe-takes-charge-of-its-own-destiny/|title=The Three Seas Initiative: Central and Eastern Europe takes charge of its own destiny|publisher=Visegrád Post|date=28 August 2016|access-date=2017-07-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/making-the-three-seas-initiative-a-priority-for-trump|title=Making the Three Seas Initiative a Priority for Trump|last=Ansley|first=Rachel|work=Atlantic Council|access-date=2017-07-04}}

The Initiative's second summit was held 6–7 July 2017 in Warsaw, Poland. Guest attendees included US President Donald Trump.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-trip-to-poland-forces-3-seas-summit-change|title=Trump trip to Poland forces 3 Seas summit change|date=2017-06-13|work=Fox News|access-date=2017-07-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/04/reuters-america-factbox-three-seas-initiative-summit-in-warsaw.html|title=FACTBOX-Three Seas Initiative summit in Warsaw|last=CNBC|website=CNBC|date=2017-07-04|access-date=2017-07-04|archive-date=2017-07-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704105034/http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/04/reuters-america-factbox-three-seas-initiative-summit-in-warsaw.html|url-status=dead}} The participating countries unanimously agreed to set up a Three Seas Business Forum.{{cite web|title=President Rumen Radev in Warsaw: the Joint Projects and Investments of the Central and Eastern European Countries will Make the European Union Stronger|url=https://www.president.bg/news3837/president-rumen-radev-in-warsaw-the-joint-projects-and-investments-of-the-central-and-eastern-european-countries-will-make-the-european-union-stronger.html&lang=en|website=President.bg|access-date=11 July 2017}}{{Cite web | url=http://three-seas.eu/2018-summit/ | title=2018 Summit – Three Seas Initiative | website=Three-seas.eu | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906030850/http://three-seas.eu/2018-summit/ | archive-date=2018-09-06 | url-status=live | access-date=2018-09-06}}

The Initiative's third summit took place 17–18 September 2018 in Bucharest, Romania. Participants approved interconnection projects in three key areas: transport, energy, and digital.{{Cite web | url=http://three-seas.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3SI-short-list-of-priority-interconnection-projects.pdf | title=The Three Seas Initiative-Priority Interconnection Projects | website=Three-seas.eu | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006190632/http://three-seas.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3SI-short-list-of-priority-interconnection-projects.pdf | archive-date=2018-10-06 | url-status=live | access-date=2018-10-06}} Guest attendees included President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, and US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. The first edition{{clarify|date=July 2021}} of the Business Forum was organised. A 3SI Network of Chambers of Commerce was created, and a letter of intent was signed concerning establishment of a Three Seas Investment Fund.{{cite web |title=Press releases |url=http://three-seas.eu/press-releases/ |website=Three Seas Initiative |access-date=19 September 2018}}{{cite web |title=Croatian President at Third Three Seas Initiative Summit |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/croatian-president-at-third-three-seas-initiative-summit/ |website=Croatia Week |date=19 September 2018 |access-date=19 September 2018}}

File:President Donald J. Trump Leads a Bilateral Meeting with President Andrzej Duda, July 6, 2017.jpg

File:The Bulgarian Head of State is on a visit to Romania to take part in the Three Seas initiative summit 2018 10.jpg

The initiative is closely related to two major infrastructure projects in the region:{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/r-poland-hopes-to-tap-trumps-business-acumen-at-regional-summit-2017-7?IR=T|title=Poland hopes to tap Trump's business acumen at regional summit|work=Business Insider|access-date=2017-07-04|archive-date=2017-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729182658/http://www.businessinsider.com/r-poland-hopes-to-tap-trumps-business-acumen-at-regional-summit-2017-7?IR=T|url-status=dead}}

• A north–south highway "Via Carpathia", connecting Klaipėda in Lithuania with Thessaloniki in Greece
• Liquefied natural gas infrastructure, with sea terminals in Poland and Croatia and a connecting pipeline

Other projects are the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, Via Baltica road, Rail Baltica and Amber Rail Freight Corridor{{Cite web|url=https://rfc-amber.eu/|title=Amber Rail Freight Corridor|website=Rfc-amber.eu}} rail connections.{{Cite web|url=http://www.viacarpatia.eu/novinka-8-jun-2018-15-09-50|title=From Warsaw to Bucharest - The Way Forward for the Three Seas Initiative|website=Viacarpatia.eu}} Another project is Rail-2-Sea, which aims to connect the Baltic Sea port of Gdańsk (Poland) with the Black Sea port of Constanța (Romania) through a {{convert|3,663|km|abbr=off}} long railway line.{{cite news|url=https://universul.net/rail-2-sea-and-via-carpathia-the-us-backed-highway-and-rail-links-from-the-baltic-to-the-black-sea/|title=Rail-2-Sea and Via Carpathia, the US-backed highway and rail links from the Baltic to the Black Sea|first=Alison|last=Mutler|newspaper=Universul.net|date=12 October 2020}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347344614|title=The Three Seas Initiative as a new model of regional cooperation in Central Europe: A Polish perspective|first=Łukasz|last=Lewkowicz|journal=UNISCI Journal|volume=18|pages=177–194|year=2020|issue=54|doi=10.31439/UNISCI-101|doi-access=free}}

The initial two founding institutions from Poland and Romania have committed themselves to make payments totaling more than 500 million euros.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sloveniatimes.com/three-seas-initiative-summit-urges-eu-to-consider-its-goals|title=Three Seas Initiative Summit urges EU to consider its goals|newspaper=Slovenia Times|date=7 June 2019 |access-date=2019-11-04 |author1=w3Bstudio }} The Fund is open to other Three Seas countries, which may join it after obtaining appropriate permits. The supervisory board of the Fund consists of representatives of development banks from Poland, Romania, Latvia, and the Czech Republic.{{Cite news|url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/36352-three-seas-initiative|title=Three Seas Initiative Gets Investment Fund|website=total-croatia-news.com|access-date=2019-11-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://media.bgk.pl/61041-the-three-seas-initiative-investment-fund-officially-established|title=The Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund officially established|website=media.bgk.pl|language=pl|access-date=2019-11-04}}

In 2019, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and Export–Import Bank of Romania{{Cite web|url=https://www.actmedia.eu/daily/iohannis-at-the-summit-of-the-three-seas-initiative-the-us-economic-presence-in-the-region-is-a-true-catalyst-for-co-operation/81243|title=Iohannis at the summit of the Three Seas Initiative :The US economic presence in the region is a true catalyst for co-operation|website=actmedia.eu|access-date=2019-11-04}} signed the founding act of the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ceep.be/three-seas-initiative-investment-fund-established/|title=Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund established|publisher=Central Europe Energy Partners|access-date=2019-11-04}} The fund is to focus on projects creating transport, energy and digital infrastructure in the Three Seas region. Private investors from pension funds, private investment funds, and other entities will also be invited to the fund. The aim is to raise up to €3–5 billion.

The fund will engage, on a commercial basis, in infrastructure projects with a total value of up to €100 billion,{{Cite web|url=https://biznesalert.com/polish-briefing-the-three-seas-fund-will-finance-energy-investments/|title=Polish Briefing: The Three Seas Fund will finance energy investments|author=Editorial Staff|date=2018-08-21|website=BiznesAlert EN|access-date=2019-11-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://emerging-europe.com/news/polish-and-romanian-banks-establish-three-seas-investment-fund/|title=Polish and Romanian banks establish Three Seas investment fund|last=Patricolo|first=Claudia|date=2019-06-11|publisher=Emerging Europe|access-date=2019-11-04}} while the needs of the Three Seas region have been estimated at over €570 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://irei.com/news/new-fund-supplement-eu-infrastructure-project-financing/|title=New fund to supplement EU infrastructure project financing|date=2019-06-12|website=Institutional Real Estate, Inc.|access-date=2019-11-04}}

Prior to the 2020 Tallinn Summit, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged up to a billion dollars in financing for the Investment Fund.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/news/press-releases/us-commits-1-billion-dollars-to-develop-central-european-infrastructure/|title=US commits $1 billion dollars to develop Central European infrastructure|date=February 15, 2020}} The investment was not made.{{cite web | last=Bonner | first=Brian | title=The ebb and flow of the Three Seas Initiative | website=GIS Reports | date=9 October 2023 | url=https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/three-seas-initiative-3/ | access-date=23 December 2023}}

The fund's assets were estimated at €900 mil. in 2023.{{cite news | title=Europe's Three Seas Initiative needs $690bn in infrastructure: banker | work=Nikkei Asia | date=23 October 2023 | url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Europe-s-Three-Seas-Initiative-needs-690bn-in-infrastructure-banker | access-date=23 December 2023}} The fund is collaborating with the Amber Infrastructure Group in raising capital and managing investments.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ebrd.com/news/2023/ebrd-invests-in-rpower-in-poland.html | website=www.ebrd.com | title=EBRD invests in R.Power in Poland | first=Nigina | last=Mirbabaeva | date=2023-10-23}}

Social-democratic Croatian President Zoran Milanović stated that the initiative is harmful for Croatia.{{Cite web |date=19 October 2020 |title=Milanović protiv Inicijative triju mora: Nepotrebno i potencijalno štetno zbog mogućeg zamjeranja Berlinu i Moskvi |url=https://www.novilist.hr/novosti/hrvatska/milanovic-protiv-tri-mora-nepotrebno-i-potencijalno-stetno/}}

The Three Seas Initiative was perceived rather negatively by Czech experts and diplomats during its launch. It was seen as a Polish attempt to create its sphere of influence (similar to the historical perception of Intermarium). Further fears were related to a possibility of deepening the east–west division in the EU and exclusion of Germany. A long term Czech objection was that there should be no competing geopolitical project in the region that would weaken the EU. Some of those objections have been partially addressed lately also due to a good experience with cooperation on infrastructure projects in the Visegrád Group.{{Cite web|url=https://archiv.ihned.cz/c1-66825600-zahada-jmenem-trojmori-se-odhaluje-misto-konkurence-eu-ji-ma-posilit-pomoci-zlepseni-infrastruktury|title=Poláci odhalili projekt Trojmoří. Propojení Pobaltí s jihovýchodem EU přitahuje americké miliardy |date=2020-10-06|publisher=Hospodářské noviny|language=cs|access-date=2020-10-08}}{{verify source|date=April 2021}} Further improvement of Czech position toward the Initiative happened after the term of the president Miloš Zeman ended and the government could remove from the Czech priority list the controversial project of Danube-Odra-Labe channel in 2023. The Ministry of foreign affairs suggested the new priority projects should be the gas connection STORK II and high-speed rail connection to Poland. On the other hand, Czechia still does not seem interested in joining the Investment fund or hosting a summit.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-12 |title=Náhrada za 'Zemanovu oblíbenou hračku'. Kanál Dunaj–Odra–Labe vystřídají hned dva projekty |url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/trojmori-ceska-vlada-dunaj-odra-labe-cinsky-vliv-plynovod_2307120700_aur |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=iROZHLAS |language=cs}}

The populist Finns Party has advocated for Finland to join the initiative.{{Cite news|url=https://intermarium.org.ua/en/finland-to-join-the-three-seas-initiative-3si/|title = Finland to join the Three Seas Initiative (3SI)| newspaper=Intermarium |date = 10 December 2019}}

In 2016, Ukraine was sent an invitation to the Three Seas Summit in Dubrovnik. However, no state representative was sent to the meeting.{{cite web | url=https://www.ecpp.org.pl/trojmorze-a-ukraina-wspolpraca-niemozliwa/ | title=Trójmorze a Ukraina: Współpraca (Nie)możliwa | date=24 August 2020 }}

In August 2019, during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Poland, he stated that Ukraine is interested in becoming an active participant in regional projects and initiatives in Poland, such as the Three Seas, which covers the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas. It was also noted that Ukraine is already cooperating in the construction of the trans-European Via Carpatia highway, and is discussing an ambitious E-40 waterway project for Ukraine."{{Cite web |date=2019-08-31 |title=Zelenskyi in Poland: in addition to history – sanctions, borders, energy, transport plus the Three Seas |url=https://novynarnia.com/2019/08/31/zelenskiy-u-polshhi-krim-istoriyi-sanktsiyi-kordoni-energetika-transport-plyus-trimor-ya/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=novynarnia.com |language=uk}}

In October 2019, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said that Ukraine could not now join the Three Seas Initiative, as it includes the countries of Central and Southern Europe, which are members of the European Union. The head of Polish diplomacy explained that the Three Seas Initiative should not be associated with geopolitics, as it is only an infrastructure project.{{Cite web |title=Poland has explained why Ukraine cannot join the Three Seas yet |url=https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2019/10/3/7101513/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=eurointegration.com.ua |language=uk}}

In November 2019, during the visit of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Estonia, he stated that Ukraine is interested in joining the TSI and intends to discuss this issue with Estonian partners.{{Cite web |title=Ukraine is interested in joining the Three Seas Initiative - Zelenskyi |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics/2825624-ukraina-zacikavlena-u-priednanni-do-iniciativi-troh-moriv-zelenskij.html |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=ukrinform.ua |date=26 November 2019 |language=uk}}

After the start of the 2022 Russian invasion during the Russian-Ukrainian War, President of Poland Andrzej Duda in his address to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 22 May 2022, stated that Ukraine should join the Three Seas Initiative.{{Cite web|title="Russia has destroyed Ukraine, Russia must pay for it"|url=https://zaxid.net/rosiya_zruynuvala_ukrayinu_rosiya_maye_zaplatiti_za_tse_n1543237|website=ZAXID.NET|access-date=2022-06-20|language=uk|last=Zaxid.net|date=22 May 2022 }} Later, on 7 June 2022, the Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, at the opening of a two-day congress of local self-government in the Three Seas in Lublin, stated that the Three Seas Initiative is impossible without involving a free and sovereign Ukraine.{{Cite web|title=The Three Seas are impossible without a free and sovereign Ukraine - Mateusz Morawiecki|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics/3501317-trimora-nemozlive-bez-vilnoi-ta-suverennoi-ukraini-moraveckij.html|website=ukrinform.ua|date=7 June 2022 |access-date=2022-06-20|language=uk}}

At the seventh summit in Riga on 20 June 2022, speaking on video, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine should become a member of the Three Seas Initiative. Zelenskyy suggested strengthening the interpretation of cooperation within the Three Seas, emphasizing the importance of logistics. Speaking about cooperation in the energy sector, Zelenskyy reminded that Ukraine has one of the largest gas storage facilities in the region.{{Cite web|title=Zelenskyi supported Ukraine's accession to the Three Seas|url=https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2022/06/20/7141633/|website=eurointegration.com.ua|access-date=2022-06-20|language=uk}} At this summit Ukraine received the status of a partner-participant of the TSI, de facto becoming a participant in this initiative.

• Amber Road
• Association Trio
• Bucharest Nine
• Central European Defence Cooperation
• Central European Initiative
• Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries
• Craiova Group
• Historic recurrence
• Intermarium
• Intermarium (region)
• Open Balkan
• Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade
• Lublin Triangle
• Northern Future Forum
• Visegrád Group

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://3seas.eu/ 2020 Official website]
• [https://www.three.si/ 2019 Official website]
• [http://three-seas.eu 2018 Official website]

{{Regional organizations}}

Category:Central Europe

Category:Eastern Europe

Category:European integration

Category:International economic organizations

Category:International political organizations

Category:International security

Category:Foreign relations of Lithuania

Category:Central European intergovernmental organizations

Category:2015 establishments in Europe

Category:Intermarium

Category:Bottom-up regional groups within the European Union

Category:Organizations established in 2015

Category:First presidency of Donald Trump