A New Reality in the Three Seas Initiative
The Marshal of the Sejm, Elżbieta Witek, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, were honored at a gala in Lublin. The event, part of the 3rd Self-Government Congress of the Three Seas Initiative, culminated with awards presented by the program’s board. The ceremony took place at the Center for the Meeting of Cultures, where the Marshal of the Lublin Voivodeship, Jarosław Trzecirski, announced the winners of the award titled International success in the area of the Three Seas Regions.
In a recorded message shown during the gala, the Marshal of the Sejm accepted the honorary prize, acknowledging the significance of parliamentary voices within the Three Seas framework. She expressed that parliaments which reflect the citizens’ concerns deserve a prominent place in the project and should be seen and heard. She emphasized that the parliamentary dimension has earned a legitimate role in cooperation under the Three Seas Initiative.
She reflected on the current era as a moment of upheaval and reassessment. The post-pandemic period and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have tested existing political and economic models, revealing gaps and shortcomings that many had anticipated but not fully addressed. The speaker noted that the goals discussed since 2015 have received validation through contemporary events and needs.
There was an insistence on the potential benefits of closer cooperation and integration among countries spanning the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic seas. This regional collaboration is viewed as a crucial element for the security of societies within the Three Seas space. Transport infrastructure, a unified energy policy, and tourism were highlighted as key pillars of mutual progress.
Shifting the strategic focus to a north–south axis, alongside the traditional east–west perspective, was described as a pathway to greater outcomes. The speaker dedicated the award to colleagues in the Polish Parliament and to parliamentary leaders from other nations who are building diplomacy within the Three Seas framework. The prize’s creators noted that this international success is possible thanks to global partnerships and friends from other countries.
“Together We Are Stronger”
The award in the category “Supporter of the Three Seas Initiative” went to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak. In his remarks, he praised the joint efforts to ensure security and highlighted the broader scope of the Three Seas approach beyond the North Atlantic Alliance. He linked the defense of Ukraine to a fundamental message: there is no consent to recreate the Russian Empire.
He drew attention to the ongoing Russian attempts to expand influence and noted that, regardless of the empire’s color or leadership, it has committed war crimes. The Ukrainians and residents of places like Bucza and Irpin have witnessed these truths first-hand. The emphasis was placed on the shared experience of many Central and Eastern European nations and on the goal of security through regional cooperation.
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled his recent visit to the United States, where he heard expressions of gratitude for Poland’s generosity in sheltering Ukrainian refugees. Open-hearted Polish hospitality was described as a message the world notices and values as a sign of solidarity and future potential. He also highlighted ongoing regional development projects, including the Via Carpatia road corridor, and noted the expansion of financial and logistical ties among Three Seas countries.
The final part of the ceremony recognized PKO Bank Polski with the award for a company with international reach in the Three Seas Initiative. The bank is described as a major financier of national investments while expanding regional activities and opening branches in neighboring countries. Comments from Paweł Gruza, vice chairman of the bank’s board, reflected optimism about future expansion into the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and soon Romania, with further plans to increase energy security investments and support regional trade and economic exchange.
Other Highlights
The prize for a regional company within the Three Seas Initiative went to Apis-Vita doo. Gala attendees enjoyed a performance by the Chamber Accordion Orchestra Arti Sentemo from Radzyń Podlaski. The event also announced that the 3rd Local Government Congress of the Three Seas Initiative would return on May 16–17 at the Center for Meeting of Cultures and the Lublin Conference Center, featuring the Three Seas Universities network and the Economic Forum. Seminars and discussions will cover Ukraine’s reconstruction, innovation, digitization, and the hydrogen economy.
The Three Seas Initiative unites twelve countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary. Its objective is to spur economic development and forge a stable, coherent partnership across the corridor spanning the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas. The event was reported with gratitude for international cooperation and friendship across borders, underscoring the shared mission of secure, prosperous regional growth.
Citation: Coverage of the congress and awards is attributed to official three seas communications and participating offices in Lublin, reflecting the collaborative spirit of this regional initiative.