On November 13, 2025, EPRINC Research Director Max Pyziur and researcher Matthew Sawoski presented “The Three Seas Initiative Paradigm: Examining the Possibilities from Energy to Security” at the CUSUR Forum held at The Bush Institute/Texas A&M in Washington, DC.
The presentation provided a comprehensive analysis of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), a strategic cooperation framework connecting thirteen Central European countries between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas. Drawing on EPRINC’s September 2023 report “The Three Seas Initiative: An Introduction and Energy Security Assessment,” Pyziur and Sawoski examined the region’s economic development, energy security challenges, and infrastructure financing obstacles.
The analysis revealed that while the 3SI region comprises 20% of Europe’s population and 25% of its land area, it accounts for only 16% of European GDP, with per capita GDP at approximately 80% of the European average. However, the region demonstrates stronger economic growth (2.6% annually) compared to the broader European Union (1.1%), alongside significantly higher freight transport capacity and agricultural output relative to its economic size.
A central focus of EPRINC’s research was an analysis of the “Priority Projects” 3SI had identified as key infrastructure initiatives for the economic health and security of the region. Whereas transport projects showed some progress, EPRINC’s analysis showed consistent lack of funding for energy security projects, which was tied directly to political and security problems European leaders have experienced in the aftermath of February 2022.
Pyziur and Sawoski presented a theory for the lack of funding in various pathways, and made recommendations for what would need to be done to bring 3SI less out of the realm of an organizing idea to organization in reality.
Looking forward, Pyziur and Sawoski recommended that U.S. policymakers emphasize the geostrategic importance of 3SI, support balanced energy security considerations within EU policy frameworks, maintain robust U.S. LNG export capacity, establish accountability mechanisms for priority project implementation, and strengthen cooperation with Ukraine and other regional partners. They concluded that without systemic changes to energy infrastructure financing, Central Europe’s energy security and independence remain at significant risk.
The presentation can be found here.
Dominick Blue
Distinguished Fellow
Dominick Blue is a Distinguished Fellow at the Energy Policy Research Foundation (EPRINC), where his research focuses on energy resilience, reliability, and the secure integration of emerging technologies into the power sector. His current work examines the intersection of advanced computing, infrastructure planning, and national energy security.Dominick’s research portfolio includes analysis of AI and data center electricity demand-forecasting regional load growth, reliability implications, siting dynamics, and market coordination. He also leads studies on grid modernization and energy security, assessing resilience investments, interconnection constraints, and federal–state coordination under higher load scenarios. His additional work explores the revival of the U.S. nuclear sector, financing and licensing pathways for advanced reactors, and rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity to support the nuclear supply chain.Further research areas include gas-to-power infrastructure, pipeline and turbine capacity, and the role of gas in maintaining reliability within a diversified generation mix. Across these topics, Dominick focuses on translating complex technical findings into accessible policy insights for decision-makers at DOE, FERC, and state regulatory agencies.Before joining EPRINC, Dominick held senior leadership roles in infrastructure, technology, and risk management, including Managing Partner and Director of Client Innovation for private investment and global critical infrastructure firms, respectively. A former U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Two in CBRN Defense, he brings a mission-driven perspective to energy resilience and safety. He holds a Masters of Business from the University of Southern California and has completed graduate studies in Computer Science at Georgia Tech, with research interests in AI systems, resilient infrastructure, and energy transition security.