The 3SI — There Is Still Something Missing for It to Succeed

The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) can address the EU’s investment and security needs if it overcomes its weaknesses, writes a European policy expert.

Firstly, there is the problem of constantly growing expectations and promises for the 3SI which clashes against the reality of the lack of funding. The second issue is the management of the project and the lack of information in the public debate — which is sometimes mixed up with disinformation. And finally, there is a democratic deficit because the initiators seem to have forgotten that by spending substantial public funds, they should allow public participation in determining the direction of development. Without effective solutions, the initiative will be reduced to pleasant but elitist dinners.

Editor Picks: Civil Society Pushes the 3SI Forward

On 20-21 June, Riga hosts the political summit and business forum of the 3SI. A month earlier, on 20-21 May, the Latvian presidency also opened a new format for the initiative — a civil society forum, the idea for which came from the ‘Visegrad Insight’ report developed in collaboration with dozens of experts on good governance and management standards in Central Europe. In addition, a traditional local government forum was held in Lublin, and several think tanks in the United States and Europe raced to define the initiative’s further directions.