On 16 January 2026, a joint session was held at the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union, bringing together the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group “Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine” of the Verkhovna Rada and the National Platform “Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine,” with the participation of the Ukrainian delegation to the EU–Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee.

During the session, participants reviewed Ukraine’s activities within the Three Seas Initiative in 2025, analysed the results of institutional and inter-parliamentary cooperation, and discussed priorities and objectives for 2026.

The session was attended by members of the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group “Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine”:
 Vadym Halaichuk — Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Chair of the Ukrainian delegation to the EU–Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee.
 Yuriy Kamelchuk — Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Chair of the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group “Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine.”
 Fedir Venislavskyi — Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Member of the Committee on National Security, Defence, and Intelligence of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
 Oleh Dunda — Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Member of the Committee on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
A presentation was delivered by Andriy Smorodin — President of the National Platform “Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine” and Head of the Executive Office of the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group. He briefed participants on the results of the National Platform’s and Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group’s activities in 2025, the established mechanisms of cooperation with the Verkhovna Rada, the academic and educational community, the business sector, and international partners; the institutional development of the Platform and its transition from model-building to practical implementation; as well as priority areas of work and Ukraine’s participation in international events of the Initiative in 2026.

Following the presentation, a discussion took place during which Members of Parliament confirmed the relevance and effectiveness of the chosen coordination format. The participation of government representatives contributed to a comprehensive discussion of Ukraine’s prospects within the Three Seas Initiative and reaffirmed the need for continued inter-agency coordination and close cooperation with the Government of Ukraine.

Representatives of central executive authorities joined online, including the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine; and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.

The session also included representatives from the academic, educational, and expert communities of Ukraine and foreign countries, in particular:

 Iryna Vakhovych — Rector of Lutsk National Technical University.
 Olena Serhiienko — Professor, NTU “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute.”
 Representatives of Ukrainian universities participating in the Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine academic and educational platform.
 Małgorzata Samojedny — Doctor of Law, President of The Opportunity Institute for Foreign Affairs (Poland).
 Wilfried Jilge — Expert on Ukraine and the Wider Black Sea Region, DGAP (Germany).
 Serhii Zanudin — Director, SMART LAWYERS Law Firm LLC.
 Dmytro Umanskyi — Commercial Director, Gravicon NVC.
 Vitaliy Zapukhlyak — Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia.
 Illia Khoch — Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia.

In their remarks, Members of Parliament reaffirmed consistent parliamentary support for Ukraine’s participation in the Three Seas Initiative, emphasized the importance of inter-parliamentary diplomacy and the effectiveness of the established cooperation model between the Verkhovna Rada and the National Platform, and highlighted the need for continued systematic engagement with the Government and central executive authorities to strengthen coordination and ensure practical implementation of initiatives in 2026.

Representatives of the academic, educational, and expert communities emphasized the role of science, education, business, and international expert support as a critical component of the long-term development of Ukraine’s cooperation within the Initiative.

As a result of the session, participants concluded that in 2025 a sustainable institutional model for Ukraine’s participation in the Three Seas Initiative had been established, ensuring systematic cooperation between Parliament, the National Platform, academia, and the expert community, and laying the groundwork for the further expansion of international cooperation in 2026. Priority directions of work for the coming year were outlined, and readiness for continued inter-parliamentary, inter-agency, and international cooperation was confirmed.

At the conclusion of the session, Andriy Smorodin was recognized for his significant personal contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of the state, as well as for his services to the Ukrainian people. He was awarded the Certificate of Honour of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, one of the highest parliamentary distinctions.

Additional information: On 16 January 2024, at the initiative of Members of Parliament of Ukraine, the Inter-Factional Parliamentary Group “Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine” was established in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. It became one of the first parliamentary formations among participating states of the Initiative and began the development of its parliamentary dimension.

Source: https://www.rada.gov.ua/news/Novyny/245975.html