Duda: Ukraine received the status of a partner-participant of the Trimorya initiative
The countries participating in the Three Seas Initiative (Trimorye) created a new format of partnership, giving Ukraine the status participating partner. This was announced by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, during the summit of the Trimorye countries in Riga. According to TVN 24, the new form of partnership is addressed to potential EU member states. – We have decided to create a special new type of partnership with the Three Seas Initiative – apart from the strategic partnership – partnership through participation. This is a new type of partnership, intended not only for Ukraine. Today we gave it to Ukraine, but we proceed from the fact that the same partnership can be shared by those countries that are located in Central Europe and are not members of the European Union, but are striving to join it, Duda emphasized. He added that countries that are on their way to join the European Union will be able to apply for such a format of partnership with the Three Seas Initiative. Duda stressed that all the countries of Trimorye are in favor of granting Ukraine the official status of a candidate for the EU. – I hope that a decision on this matter will be made by the European Council this week – at the end of the week, because then there will be a meeting this council,” said the President of Poland. Ukraine has repeatedly expressed a desire to join the Trimorie. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky took part in the summit as a guest via video link. He stated that Ukraine should become a full member of the Three Seas Initiative. According to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the Three Seas Initiative would not be possible without an independent Ukraine. The Three Seas Initiative was founded in 2016 by Duda and his then Croatian colleague Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović as a platform for economic cooperation between the Central European countries of the EU. It includes 12 EU states, lying along a north-south axis from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic and Black Seas.
