The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) is a cooperation platform of EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas that strengthens North–South connectivity in three domains:
The Three Seas Region represents 121 million people and about 14% of the EU’s GDP. Yet it still faces an estimated €650 billion infrastructure gap across three critical sectors: energy, transport & logistics, and digital. Addressing this gap means unlocking new opportunities for innovation, investment, and resilience — values that Japan and the 3SI countries share deeply.
In an era of growing geopolitical tension and shifting strategic influence, investment in dual-use infrastructure is no longer a buzzword — it’s a necessity. For the countries of the Three Seas region, the priority now is to combine economic objectives with the imperative of security. This article introduces the idea of a “4× return” — a framework for understanding how dual-use infrastructure can drive both strategic and economic synergy.
The report captures key conclusions, visions, and recommendations from the 10th, jubilee edition of the Forum in Warsaw. The event brought together ten Heads of State, government representatives, more than 60 experts, and hundreds of business leaders and investors. It demonstrates that the Three Seas has become a genuine political, economic, and strategic force – strengthening European cohesion and transatlantic ties.
Coming soon: the Three Seas Business Forum 2025 Report – a special 10th anniversary edition with key sectoral recommendations and leaders’ declarations.
The Three Seas Business Forum 2025 in Warsaw is behind us – record attendance, inspiring debates, and productive meetings. A full summary report will be published soon.
On 28–29 April 2025, Warsaw will host the Three Seas Business Forum – the leading gathering of policymakers, business leaders, and investors from across the region.
We don’t just talk about regional transformation — we convene the people who make it happen.
At the Three Seas Business Council, business leaders, policymakers, and civil society come together to shape the future of Three Seas Region.
Through high-level forums, strategic partnerships, and real-world projects, we turn dialogue into impact — with transparency, trust, and results that matter.
Our network brings together key stakeholders, promoting synergies that translate into effective partnerships and impactful initiatives.
We prioritize professionalism and high standards, ensuring our community has access to essential resources and influential leaders.
Priority project pipeline: interconnection projects expanded from 48 (2018) to 143 (2024); multiple projects have been completed or made substantial progress (see: www.3seas.eu).
Built an investment pillar: the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund (3SIIF) launched in 2019, with total size of committed capital of about $1.3bn for investments across the region.
Broadened participation: Greece joined as the 13th member (2023); in 2025 Albania and Montenegro became Associated Participants States, while Spain and Türkiye joined as Strategic Partners; updated Terms of Reference for Strategic Partners adopted (2025).
Connectivity execution: advance North–South transport corridors (rail/road/ports), energy interconnectors and storage, and secure digital backbones.
Capital mobilisation: strengthen the investment pillar and expand blended financing (EU instruments, DFIs, national funds, private capital).
Partnerships: deepen transatlantic and Indo‑Pacific economic cooperation (e.g., enhanced engagement with U.S. and Japan) to accelerate technology and project delivery.
Outcomes focus: turn summits and forums into delivery checkpoints, match investors with cross-border projects and drive milestones (tenders, FIDs, regulatory enablers) to keep policy-to-project continuity.
A presidential-level cooperation format of 13 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas, focused on developing infrastructure in three areas: energy, transport, and digital.
Strengthening North–South connectivity, mobilizing investment, and enhancing the region’s security and competitiveness across energy, transport, and digital sectors.
13 EU states: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia.
Associated Participating States: Ukraine and Moldova (since 2023), Albania and Montenegro (since 2025).
Strategic Partners: the United States, Japan, Germany, the European Commission; since 2025 also Spain and Türkiye.
Initiated in 2015 by the Presidents of Croatia (Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović) and Poland (Andrzej Duda) during a meeting of regional leaders held alongside the UN General Assembly in New York; the first summit was held in Dubrovnik in 2016.
A commercial infrastructure fund focusing on energy, transport, and digital in 3SI EU member states, backed among others by national development banks; declared total commitments are around $1.3 billion.
Portfolio examples include Cargounit (rail rolling stock, PL), Greenergy Data Centers (EE), BMF Port Burgas (BG), Enery (renewables, CEE) and R.Power (PV/BESS).
According to the 2024 status report: 143 projects in total, of which 89 are priority projects identified by the member states. More information: https://3seas.eu/about/progressreport.
No. 3SI is an informal cooperation platform of 13 EU member states in the Three Seas region; it is not an EU or NATO institution. Most 3SI countries are NATO members, but the initiative itself remains independent of both. Comparable regional formats include the Bucharest Nine (B9) and the Visegrad Group (V4).
No. 3SI membership is limited to EU member states. Non-EU countries may engage as Associated Participating States—currently Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and since April 2025 also Albania and Montenegro. Serbia is not a member.
Strategic Partners are the United States, Japan, Germany and the European Commission, (since 2024); Spain and Türkiye joined as strategic partners in 2025.
Via the TSBC hub: participation in TSBC events (including the Business Forum held alongside Summits), participation in sector networks, and partnerships for projects and investments, including public–private partnerships (PPPs).
Official Three Seas Initiative (3SI) documents (summit declarations, project lists, status reports) are published on 3seas.eu and via host governments’ official channels, including Presidential websites.
For Business Forum matters, 3seasbc.com provides regularly updated information and curated links; TSBC works with Presidents’ offices and embassies to surface authoritative sources.
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