The second day of the 3Seas Local Government Congress was opened by Jarosław Stawiarski, Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. The Congress was honoured with the presence of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, who delivered an important keynote speech. More regions joined the Network of the Three Seas Regions.
This year, more than 900 participants from 20 countries attended the fourth 3Seas Congress.
– Three Seas Initiatives is now almost ten years old and will continue because it is a historical necessity. One hundred and twenty million people in thirteen countries have the right to function based on equal rights in the European Union. This potential should enable us to catch up faster with the old EU countries. We are building this community, we are inspired and we are united for the good of the whole of a united Europe – emphasised Marshal Jarosław Stawiarski.
The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, then addressed the Congress participants.
– The congress is an extremely valuable and important event in the context of the further development of the Three Seas Initiative, which was designed primarily as a platform for economic and infrastructural cooperation, but in such a flexible way that we can successfully develop its local government dimension. I would like to acknowledge with appreciation the achievements of the Lubelskie Voivodeship as a region remaining in the European avant-garde in inspiring new directions in the development of the Three Seas cooperation. I am glad that you are consistently developing the Congress, which has become a permanent part of the Three Seas Initiative’s calendar and which, year by year, attracts more and more local government officials, local and regional business representatives, as well as representatives of other countries outside the Initiative’s areas. Most importantly, however, is the content with which you are creatively enriching the Three Seas cooperation agenda – you have created two new institutions: “Network of the Three Seas Regions” and “The Three Seas Universities Network”. I congratulate you on these ideas for strengthening cooperation and wholeheartedly wish you success in achieving your ambitious goals – said the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda.
A decade of Three Seas cooperation – state of play ahead of the 10th Three Seas Initiative Summit in Poland.
By the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, the anniversary Summit and Business Forum of the Three Seas Initiative in 2025 will be held in Poland. Ten years of development of the Three Seas format allow us to formulate assessments of this cooperation: what has been achieved? What are the greatest successes of the Three Seas Initiative? What failures has the Initiative experienced and what lessons have been learned? The panel participants looked for the priorities of the Polish presidency of the Three Seas Initiative in the coming year.
After the official opening session, new members were admitted to the Network of the Three Seas Regions. The Network of the Three Seas Regions was launched in June 2021 by signing the Lublin Declaration. Today, this cooperation is formed by 25 regions from 7 countries: Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
The following regions have finalised admission to the Network this year: • Volyn Oblast (Ukraine); • Rivne Oblast (Ukraine); • Ternopil Oblast (Ukraine); • Luhansk Oblast (Ukraine) online; • Odessa Oblast (Ukraine) online.
Joining the Network of the Three Seas Regions allows for joint projects in various fields: economy, infrastructure, environment, digitalisation and education and science. Ukrainian regions join the Network as associated partners.
INTERNATIONAL SESSION
• Debate of the Regions: Three Seas Infrastructure, Via Carpatia; • Prospects for the development of the Three Seas Universities Network – cooperation of science and local government; • Debate of the Regions II: Cooperation priorities of regions associated under the Three Seas Initiative; • Good practices of the Three Seas – case studies; Good practices of the Three Seas – Meeting Corner; Networking
Debate of the Regions: Three Seas Infrastructure, Via Carpatia.
The panel discussed the construction of the trans-European transport corridor Via Carpatia, but also Rail Carpatia, new opportunities that, on the one hand, strengthen the security of the macroregion and influence its economic development, and on the other hand, create a network of Three Seas transport connections.
Prospects for the development of the Three Seas Universities Network – cooperation of science and local government.
The panel was a continuation of the conference “The Three Seas Universities Network in the face of opportunities and threats to the digital space of universities” organized by the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin during the scientific session on the first day.
Debate of the Regions II: Cooperation priorities of regions associated under the Three Seas Initiative.
The panel was addressed to regions that do not yet belong to the Three Seas Initiative, but which aspire to join the Network of the Three Seas Regions or have started cooperation within it as associated partners. The main goal of the panel was to identify challenges and problems, and above all, priorities resulting from the conditions and existing premises, which can be used to create a platform for cooperation in order to find solutions to similar problems through the implementation of new joint projects on Ukraine and Moldova’s path to integration with the EU.
Good practices of the Three Seas – case studies
This part of the Congress was aimed at creating a space for inspiration, sharing experiences and building relationships between professionals in the field of international cooperation in the Three Seas area. The meeting was divided into two parts. In the first part, the so-called ‘inspiration session’, a selection of projects were presented that have already been successful, are in progress or have great potential for future implementation. In turn, the second part featured meeting corners. Participants were able to move between three thematic stations: Modern Technologies and Green Energy, Culture and Tourism, and Aid to Ukraine. The formula allowed for a free conversation about the presented projects.
ECONOMIC FORUM
As a part of the Forum, three seminars were held: • Seminar I: Healthy Society • Seminar II: Digital Society • Seminar III: Material technologies, production and logistics processes.
Seminar I: Healthy Society.
The debate focused participants’ attention on various aspects of health and led to deliberations around the most important challenges facing society in the context of health in a broad sense, including health education, access to medical care, promotion of healthy lifestyles or the fight against diseases and the impact of the environment on health. The seminar is an opportunity to look for solutions that can help to bring 21st century diseases under control and improve the health of society.
Seminar II: Digital society.
The digital economy and the ICT sector in the Three Seas countries have experienced significant growth in recent years. Our region has become an important center of technological progress, innovation and digitalization for the entire EU. The importance of the digital economy and the ICT sector has played a key role in driving economic growth and developing the competitiveness of our region. In selected areas, the Central and Eastern European region is already ahead of the more developed, Western EU economies. During the session, we learned about the latest data on the condition of the digital economy and the ICT sector in Central and Eastern Europe. The participants discussed how to use the opportunities facing Poland and the region related to the digitization of the economy in the spirit of cooperation and responsibility, and identified the most important obstacles to progress and innovation in the Three Seas countries.
Seminar III: Material technologies, production and logistics processes
Panelists discussed trends in the area of sustainable energy use and the management of production and logistics processes. Participants learnt in which areas we can expect legislative changes that will have an impact on the conduct of business and which new technological and scientific solutions will enable industry-specific performance indicators to be achieved.
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS
The “Unissued Diplomas” exhibition was placed in the foyer of S1, presenting the life stories of 40 Ukrainian students who lost their lives as a result of aggression from the Russian Federation. Unissued diplomas of young people whose plans and dreams were brutally interrupted by the war. The exhibition, organized by the group of Ukrainian students “Connect with UA”, has so far been shown in 250 places in over 30 countries. On the second and third day of the Congress, the Congress of Young Leaders also took place, which gathered almost 150 participants. Report from the Congress of Young Leaders coming soon.
