Photo: Three Seas Initiative Parliamentary Summit – Working session, Zagreb, National and University Library, 25 March 2026 (photo: Hina/Damir Senčar), the Croatian Parliament, https://www.sabor.hr/index.php/en/press/three-seas-initiative-parliamentary-summit-working-session-zagreb-national-and-university
A. Orzelska-Stączek, April 2026
The First Three Seas Initiative (3SI) Parliamentary Summit: Summary
The Three Seas Initiative Parliamentary Summit took place in Zagreb on 24–25 March 2026 under the theme “Advancing the Three Seas Initiative: Vision, Responsibility, Partnership.” The event was attended by Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the parliaments of the 3SI participating states, associated participating states, strategic partners, as well as invited guests. The Croatian Parliament hosted the summit.
The official website of the Parliamentary Summit of the Three Seas Initiative: https://www.sabor.hr/en/international-relations/chairmanship-office-and-important-events/parliamentary-summit-three-seas
This was the first Parliamentary Summit of the Three Seas Initiative. However, it is worth recalling that earlier events at parliamentary level included: the 1st Parliamentary Forum – Tallinn (Estonia), held virtually on 3 June 2021https://web.archive.org/web/20210603070825/https://3seas.eu/event/3si-parliamentary-forum; the 2nd Parliamentary Forum – Riga (Latvia), 20–21 June 2022; and the Three Seas Young Parliamentarians Forum, Warsaw (Poland), 3–5 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20220812214806/https://3seas.eu/media/news/the-latvian-parliament-hosted-the-2nd-parliamentary-forum-of-the-three-seas-initiative
The 1st Parliamentary Summit of the Three Seas Initiative in Zagreb was opened by:
- Gordan Jandroković, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament
- Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia
- Szymon Hołownia, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland
This was followed by speeches delivered by:
- Dubravka Šuica – European Commissioner for the Mediterranean (speech: https://europa.eu/newsroom/ecpc-failover/pdf/speech-26-728_en.pdf )
- Ruslan Stefanchuk – Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
- Numan Kurtulmuş – Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
During the plenary session, representatives of the parliaments of the Three Seas Initiative participating states, strategic partners, associated states, selected institutions, and special guests took the floor. Details: https://www.sabor.hr/en/press/news/three-seas-initiative-reaffirmed-key-framework-connectivity-security-and-euro
The Polish delegation included:
- Szymon Hołownia, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm
- Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, MP – Chairman of the Parliamentary Group on the Three Seas Initiative
- Tomasz Głogowski, MP – Deputy Chairman of the Polish-Croatian Parliamentary Group
- Marek Siwiec, Head of the Chancellery of the Sejm
More information on the participation of the Polish delegation: https://oide.sejm.gov.pl/oide/index.php?Itemid=1131&id=15225&option=com_content&view=article&utm_source=chatgpt.com
Full recording of the proceedings in English: https://www.youtube.com/live/fsw7gzXpniQ
Summit programme: https://www.sabor.hr/sites/default/files/uploads/outdex-documents/2026-03/3SI%20Parliamentary%20Summit%20-%20Web%20Programme%20Update%20ver.%2023.3_final.pdf
A key outcome of the Summit was the adoption of the Joint Statement of the Speakers/Presidents and high-level representatives of the Parliaments of the Three Seas Initiative Participating States.
The document highlighted the complex global security environment, accompanied by energy instability, supply chain vulnerabilities, increasing technological rivalry, and deepened economic competition. It emphasised the value of the 3SI in strengthening cohesion, competitiveness, and resilience of the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Sea regions, as well as the entire European Union. One provision referred to enhancing transatlantic relations, particularly in the areas of energy security and technology.
Speakers and other high-level representatives of the parliaments of the 3SI participating states declared openness to exploring the possibility of linking the Three Seas Initiative with international strategic connectivity projects such as the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The role of 3SI in fostering investment and innovation was also underlined. In addition, attention was drawn to the potential of the Initiative in supporting EU enlargement policy.
One of the points of the statement strongly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as the pursuit of peace. Another point concerned the role 3SI can play in Ukraine’s reconstruction process and in integrating its strategic economic sectors into European infrastructure networks.
The parliamentary representatives expressed their willingness to deepen cooperation through regular high-level meetings within the 3SI framework, promoting cooperation among national parliamentary bodies (e.g., committees, subcommittees, parliamentary working groups), and using other mechanisms of inter-parliamentary cooperation within 3SI. They also emphasized deepening relations with national presidential administrations and/or governments actively participating in the Initiative.
Attention was also drawn to the need to increase public awareness of 3SI, as well as to improve communication and visibility of this form of cooperation.
In conclusion, the statement highlighted the desire to advance the parliamentary dimension of the Three Seas Initiative and expressed the expectation that the outcomes of the Zagreb Parliamentary Summit would contribute to the upcoming Summit of Heads of State or Government in Dubrovnik.
Finally, the parliamentary representatives confirmed their readiness for cooperation in developing the Three Seas Initiative.
Full text of the document: https://www.sabor.hr/sites/default/files/uploads/outdex-documents/2026-03/Joint%20Statement%2024.3.2026..pdf
At the National and University Library, where the main Parliamentary Summit proceedings were held, an exhibition was organised to showcase selected infrastructure projects from the 3SI participating states titled: The Three Seas Initiative: Strengthening Connectivity through Infrastructure, Energy Security and Cooperation on Strategic Development Projects. Selection of projects from participating states.
The first Parliamentary Summit of the Three Seas Initiative was organized as part of Croatia’s presidency of the Initiative. The culmination of this annual presidency will be the Presidents’ Summit and Business Forum, to be held on 28–29 April 2026 in Dubrovnik. (Details: https://mvep.gov.hr/foreign-policy/three-seas-initiative/276998)
