NSC participated as a partner in the conference “Three Seas, One Opportunity: New Waves,” organized by The Opportunity Institute for Foreign Affairs in Gdansk, Poland, from June 4-5, 2024. The event serves as a platform for academic and specialized discussions focused on the challenges faced by Central and Eastern Europe, particularly the states that are part of the Three Seas Initiative, and on assessing the effects of global changes on regional security, infrastructure, energy, and economic development.

NSC was represented by Sergiu Mitrescu, NSC Program Director, who, during the panel titled “When Energy Security Comes from the Sea,” provided an overview of the maritime security situation in the Black Sea, analyzing the implications for offshore energy projects in the Black Sea and the region. Additionally, during the question-and-answer session, potential solutions for protecting critical infrastructure were discussed, ranging from improving detection capabilities to enhancing cohesion among Allies to deter such incidents.

The panel was moderated by Zuzanna Nowak, Director for Analysis at The Opportunity Institute for Foreign Affairs, Poland. The discussion was joined by Cordelia Buchanan Ponczek, Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and Dr. Thomas Wilfred O’Donnel, Professor at the Hertie School of Governance, Germany.