Ukraine became an associated member state of the “Three Seas”: what does it mean

Ukraine received the status of an associated memeber state of the Three Seas initiative. The Ministry of Economy explained the significance of this for the country.

At the summit of the Three Seas initiative in Bucharest on September 6, Ukraine became an associated memeber state of the “Three Seas”, the Ministry of Economy reported.

According to the Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyridenko, this means that our country has gained access to all the tools developed as part of the initiative.

For the partners, the war started by the Russian Federation became an occasion to think about the need to change world approaches in order to completely get rid of Russian oil and gas:

• modernization of infrastructure, transport systems;

• provision of food;

• attraction of investments in energy and other strategic sectors.

Allies called on Ukraine to join in rebuilding the architecture of the region, which is the need of the hour due to Russian aggression.

Also, both for Ukraine and for countries that are members or associate members of the Three Seas initiative, the key direction of efforts is the development of logistics and trade in the region.

States participating in the initiative are developing transport capabilities to facilitate exports from Ukraine. And therefore, despite the war and regular shelling, trade on the Danube and trade routes that go to the ports of Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece are developing rapidly.

“With the victory and restoration of full freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, we will see a new reality of trade in the Three Seas Initiative region — free and efficient, thanks to the developed infrastructure,” Svyridenko said.

The minister also drew attention to the need to solve problems in trade relations between the countries. First of all, it is about removing barriers to trade and restoring the export of Ukrainian grain and other crops.

The Three Seas Initiative (Three Seas) is an international economic and infrastructure initiative that unites 12 EU countries and Ukraine, located near the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas. The initiative is aimed at creating a regional dialogue on various issues that concern the member countries of the Trimore.

The initiative includes Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Ukraine.