The conference titled “The Three Seas Initiative: An Original Concept of Regional Cooperation,” held on June 10, 2024, at the Staszic Palace in Warsaw, was a resounding success and a testament to the dynamic spirit of regional cooperation.
The 3SI Research Center project team of the Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences (ISP PAN) organised the event as an exceptional community of near 50 distinguished diplomats, scholars, and experts. This convergence of thought leaders fostered a dynamic atmosphere of intellectual exchange and collaboration.
Opening Session
The opening session, commencing at 9:45, set a tone with a letter from President Andrzej Duda of Poland, read by H.E. Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, Presidential Ambassador for the Three Seas Initiative. Her address underscored the initiative’s importance and its impact on regional cooperation.
Panel I: Lessons Learned & New Opportunities
Moderated by Maciej Kubicki from the Chancellery of the President of Poland, the first panel explored the Three Seas Initiative’s (3SI) lessons learned and new opportunities. The panellists included:
- H.E. Gediminas Varvuolis, Ambassador at Large for connectivity and 3SI (Lithuania)
- H.E. Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, Presidential Ambassador for 3SI (Poland)
- H.E. Cosmin Onisii, Ambassador of Romania
- H.E. Niki Kamba, Ambassador of Greece
Their insightful discussions highlighted the initiative’s successes and future potential, captivating the audience with their expertise and vision.
Panel II: State of Knowledge in Central Europe – Part I
The second panel, moderated by Jędrzej Błaszczak from the 3SI Research Center ISP PAN, delved into the current knowledge about the 3SI in Central Europe. Featuring contributors such as:
- Marek Sorgowicki, Department of Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)
- Prof. Agnieszka Orzelska-Stączek, 3SI Research Center ISP PAN (Poland)
- Prof. Iva Lopižić and Prof. Ivan Koprić from the University of Zagreb (Croatia)
- Prof. Grigoris Zarotiadis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)
- Dr. Mihai Sebe, European Institute of Romania, University of Bucharest (Romania),
this panel provided an overview of the initiative’s impact and scholarly perspectives.
Panel III: State of Knowledge in Central Europe – Part II
Continuing the exploration, Panel III, moderated by Dr. Krzysztof Dębiec from the Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland), featured a lineup of speakers, including:
- Dr. Mariusz Antonowicz, Vilnius University (Lithuania)
- Prof. Matthew Crandall, Tallinn University (Estonia)
- Dr. Tomas Strazay, Director of the Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (Slovakia)
- Dr. Miklós Mitrovits, Ludovika University of Public Service (Hungary)
- Dr. Łukasz Lewkowicz, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Institute of Central Europe (Poland)
- Marlena Gołębiowska, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin Institute of Central Europe (Poland)
Their engaging presentations further the conference with insights and in-depth analyses.
Panel V: Common Interests from Estonia to Greece
Running concurrently with Panel III, Panel V was moderated by Piotr Rembowski from the University of Lodz (Poland). This session explored the common interests within the 3SI from Estonia to Greece, featuring stimulating discussions from:
- Prof. Charalampos Tsardanidis, Institute of International Economic Relations (Greece)
- Prof. Karolina Gortych-Michalak, Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland)
- Dr. Barbara Jundo-Kaliszewska, University of Lodz (Poland)
- Dr. Agata Włodarska-Frykowska, University of Lodz (Poland)
The panellists provided valuable perspectives on regional synergies and collaborative opportunities.
Panel IV: Analytical Centers and Think Tanks
Panel IV, moderated by Prof. Piotr Bajda from Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, underscored the crucial role of analytical centres and think-tanks in regional cooperation. The esteemed panellists included:
- Tomasz Żornaczuk, Polish Institute of International Affairs (Poland)
- Liliana Śmiech, Warsaw Institute/Ludovika University of Public Service (Poland/Hungary)
- Paweł Musiałek, The Jagiellonian Club (Poland)
- Georgios Mitrakos, Director General, International Centre for Black Sea Studies (Greece)
Their discussions highlighted innovative approaches and strategic insights, contributing to a deeper understanding of regional dynamics.
Panel VI: Challenges and Prospects
Simultaneously, Panel VI, moderated by Dominika Chmielewska from the University of Lodz, addressed the challenges and prospects of the 3SI. Speakers included:
- Małgorzata Niedźwiedź, University of Lodz
- Maciej Skuza, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University
- Krystian Maras, University of Lodz
- Artur Marcin Lorek, Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland)
- Igor Miśta, University of Lodz
Their insightful presentations and discussions provided a forward-looking perspective on overcoming obstacles and leveraging opportunities within the initiative.
Closing Remarks
The conference concluded with closing remarks by Prof. Agnieszka Orzelska-Stączek, Project Leader of the Three Seas Initiative Research Center at ISP PAN. She summarized the discussions and highlighted the significant contributions of the over 30 esteemed speakers and participants. The event was a great platform for exchanging ideas, fostering collaboration, and envisioning the future of the Three Seas Initiative. The conference’s success underscored the importance of such gatherings in driving regional cooperation and innovation.
