The cooperation within the Three Seas Initiative in the energy, transport, and digital sectors, along with the creation of economic and infrastructural foundations for the accelerated integration of Ukraine into the European Union, was discussed during the panel discussion "Building the Three Seas as a Partner for Ukraine's European Future" at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 16.
"At the end of 2023, Ukraine became an associated partner of the Three Seas Initiative. Within the Initiative of the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas, member countries granted Ukraine partner status and supported its efforts to join the EU. The government of Ukraine highly values the support of our European partners, as such cooperation will strengthen the role of Central and Eastern Europe in the reconstruction of Ukraine and attract the necessary investments for the development of Ukraine's infrastructure," said Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade Representative of Ukraine, in his opening speech.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that the Three Seas countries are a link between Ukraine and the free world. The important supply of military equipment to Ukraine to counter Russian armed aggression, fuel supply, the preservation of vital transport flows, green corridors for the export of Ukrainian food, and migration of people—all these aspects work through the territories of the countries participating in this Initiative.
"We hope that the Three Seas countries will join the creation of an international guarantee scheme for insurance against war risks, the implementation of which would accelerate the arrival of investors in Ukraine. Considering Ukraine's need for reconstruction, the Three Seas Initiative could also consider launching ideas for projects that could be jointly implemented by the Three Seas countries and Ukraine. We also have something to offer to the member countries of the initiative. Ukraine is interested in diversifying energy resource supplies and is already participating in the North-South gas corridor project, through which Norwegian gas began to be transported in 2023. Thus, Poland should act as a transit country for Ukraine, which is also financially beneficial to Warsaw," noted Taras Kachka.
Currently, the Three Seas Initiative brings together 12 countries from Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic region: Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, and Croatia.
