A significant meeting was held in the Committee on European Integration of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, marking the anniversary of the establishment of the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group “Three Seas Initiative — Ukraine” and the National Platform. This meeting served as a milestone for reviewing the achievements of 2024, outlining the prospects for 2025, and strengthening the strategic partnership between the parliament, civil society, the academic community, and the business sector. Ukraine continues to play a vital role in the development of the Three Seas Initiative, demonstrating the productive work of the country’s parliamentarians and a confident movement toward further integration into the European community.
The meeting was opened by Yuriy Kamelchuk, Head of the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group, who emphasized the necessity of continuing active efforts in developing the Initiative, fostering partnerships among participating countries, and ensuring coordination among all branches of power in Ukraine.
Vadym Halaichuk, Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Head of the Ukrainian Section of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, underlined the importance of deepening parliamentary diplomacy to strengthen Ukraine’s position within the Initiative and enhance engagement with the newly established Three Seas Initiative group in the European Parliament.
Gediminas Varvuolis, Ambassador-at-Large of the Republic of Lithuania and coordinator, shared insights on last year’s events in Vilnius. He highlighted the importance of strategic unity among the countries of the region and emphasized the role of Three Seas Initiative summits and business forums as key instruments for economic cooperation. Notably, in 2024, Japan joined the Initiative as a strategic partner. He also underlined the importance of implementing the 3SI priority projects.
Andriy Smorodin, President of the National Platform, presented the work of the National Platform and the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group “Three Seas Initiative — Ukraine.” He summarized the achievements of 2024 and outlined plans for 2025. In his presentation, he introduced a unique system of domestic interaction that ensures the platform’s operational efficiency, along with a structural scheme of executive bodies and coordination mechanisms.
David Tomaszewski, Head of the Economic Department at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kyiv, outlined the opportunities for economic integration between the participating countries, which could serve as a foundation for sustainable regional development, as well as possibilities for attracting investment funds to support businesses.
Fedir Venislavskyi, Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and a member of the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, stressed that security is the cornerstone of economic and social development. He emphasized the need to strengthen security aspects within the framework of the Three Seas Initiative.
Larysa Bilozir, Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, focused on the importance of fostering cooperation in humanitarian spheres to build trust and interaction among countries, which is a crucial factor in enhancing regional stability.
A key aspect of the meeting was the discussion on scientific cooperation. Among the participants were leading Ukrainian scholars, including Professor Serhii Buriakovskyi, Professor Yevhen Shapran from NTU “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute,” and Professor Nazar Podolchak from Lviv Polytechnic National University.
The presence of representatives from the consular corps, including Vitalii Zapukhliak, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia, and Illya Khoch, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia, demonstrated continued international engagement.
The meeting concluded with discussions on preparations for the upcoming Three Seas Initiative Summit and Business Forum, scheduled to take place in April 2025 in Warsaw, as well as the Congress of Local Government Authorities of the Three Seas Initiative in Lublin. Participants agreed to engage key ministries in defining strategic directions, particularly concerning infrastructure projects, economic integration, security, and scientific and technological cooperation.
The meeting underscored Ukraine’s active engagement in implementing ambitious projects within the Three Seas Initiative and its commitment to expanding cooperation across various sectors, contributing to economic growth and regional security enhancement.
Background Information:
• On January 16, 2024, at the initiative of Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Parliament established the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group “Three Seas Initiative — Ukraine.”