Polish-Hungarian Scientific Forum - Alternative Forms of European Integration Conference, 3 March 2026

On 23^rd March 2026, the series of online scientific conferences organised by the Polish-Hungarian scientific forum was continued with another inspiring and fruitful conference. This time, the topic of the conference was  “Alternative forms of European integration”. The emphasis was put on the Three Seas initiative, which broadens the cooperation of the Central European countries with the Baltic countries and Greece and Bulgaria. The same topic is the topic of a research project, and the team that works on the project, which includes eminent scholars from the region of Central Europe, is led by Prof. Dr Przemysław Czarnek, who is a University Professor at John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland. Besides him, the following researchers and professors from the region took part in the conference and delivered presentations: Prof. Dr Mieczysław Ryba, Full Professor, John Paul II Catholic University, Poland; Prof. Dr Wojciech Lis, University Professor, John Paul II Catholic University, Poland; Prof. Dr Marcin Szewczak, University Professor, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland; Prof. Dr Bogumił Szmulik, Full Professor, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, Poland; Dr Robert Derewenda, Assistant Professor, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland; Ioana Constantin-Bercean, Researcher, Ion I.C. Brătianu Institute of Political Science and International Relations, Romania; and Prof. Dr Petar Bacic, Full Professor, University of Split, Croatia.

The conference was opened by Dr Katarzyna Zombory, the Research Director of the Central European Academy of the University of Miskolc. Her introduction was followed by a speech from Prof. Dr Marcin Wielec, from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Poland. He has drawn out the main activities of the Polish-Hungarian Scientific Forum. The introductory part was finished with a presentation of Prof. Dr János Ede Szilágyi, the Strategy Director of the Central European Academy of the University of Miskolc, in which he described the main scientific activities of the CEA-UM. The speakers of the conference were divided into two panels, and the first panel was moderated by Prof. Wielec. The first speaker, Prof. Dr Mieczysław Ryba, has delivered a presentation titled ‘From the Intermarium to the Three Seas – the history of Central European integration’, in which he emphasised the historical aspects of the integration processes in Central Europe. He noted that Poland had a significant role as a defender of Europe from the influence of Asian civilisation, and the important role of Józef Piłsudski’s Intermarium plan as a historical idea for integration. The integration into the Visegrad group and the Three Seas initiative were also part of his presentation.

Prof. Dr Wojciech Lis had a presentation about the social and cultural transformation as a tool for European integration. While critically observing the process of creation of a common identity in Europe, he pointed out Christianity as one of the main pillars of European civilisation. The EU implements a policy of strengthening the common identity in many fields, such as the Bologna process in higher education. However, the integration process has some weaknesses, such as the democratic deficit of the EU institutions and the high level of bureaucratisation, which detaches the Union from the citizens. He concluded that Europe is a cultural mosaic and that the local and regional diversity is not an obstacle to integration. The energy security in the Three Seas Initiative area was a topic covered by Prof. Dr Marcin Szewczak’s presentation. He described the availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability as key pillars for energy security in Central Europe. However, according to him, due to the high global challenges, without stronger cooperation between the Three Seas countries and institutionalisation of it, there is no future for the stability of the initiative.

The second panel of the conference was moderated by Dr Bartłomiej Oręziak, Assistant Professor at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Poland. The leader of the research project team, Prof. Dr Przemysław Czarnek, opened the second panel with a presentation on the axiological foundations of an effective, social market economy. Pointing out the views of the ordoliberals on the mentioned topic, as well as the importance of the preservation of morality and Christian roots when enhancing the economic freedoms, he concluded that the Three Seas initiative must return to responsible economic development based on axiological foundations. The judiciary systems in the countries of the Three Seas initiative were the topic of Prof. Dr Bogumił Szmulik’s presentation, who analysed the similarities and differences between the countries, and the importance of the EU in reforming the judicial systems during the accession process. Dr Robert Derewenda was speaking about another historical perspective: the activities of the Christian service in the process of liberation of the Three Seas countries from the communist regimes, and one of his main points was the role of the Light Life movement in Poland and the Roman Catholic priest Franciszek Blachnicki.

The perspective of Romania was covered by Ioana Constantin-Bercean’s presentation. Analysing the current security crisis, she critically analysed the response of the EU, pointing out the need for the reinvention of the EU in order to respond properly to these issues. Romania, according to her, has shown a lack of strategic expertise as well, and the country should use its geostrategic potential to respond to the mentioned challenges. She concluded that sub-regional initiatives are not separate from the regional ones. The last speaker, Prof. Dr Petar Bacic, was presenting the case of Croatia. Croatia, after its independence, integrated into the UN, NATO, EU and Council of Europe, and together with Poland launched the Three Seas initiative. The current president, Zoran Milanovic, has shown doubts about the initiative and its impact on Croatia’s external relations. However, the Government supports the strengthening of the organisation and its impact on international relations. The conference was closed by Prof. Dr Paweł Sobczyk from the University of Opole, Poland, who concluded that the Three Seas Initiative should be seen not as a replacement of the European Union, but rather as complementing and enriching the integration and collaborations between the states. The conference was additionally enriched with a discussion which followed the presentations of the participants.

The Polish-Hungarian Scientific Forum concluded another successful conference. This conference points out the importance of the alternative integration initiatives, such as the Three Seas initiative. Analysing this initiative from several different aspects, the speakers have pointed out the high importance of the preservation and deepening of this initiative, while preserving the national interests of the countries that are part of it.