EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

The WWF Baltic Sea Programme held an interactive workshop ‘Shared Waters: Harmonizing Offshore Wind, Marine Protection and Planning in the Baltic Sea’ as part of our Annual Forum. The workshop hosted participants from a variety of backgrounds to discuss the barriers and solutions to achieving nature-friendly expansion of offshore renewable energy (ORE). The fruitful dialogues resulted in numerous action points: https://lnkd.in/degJtis9

“Research shows that #genderDiscrimination in the labour market leads to lower economic growth. Acknowledging the necessity to think diversely and inclusively, we need to leave the narrow assumptions of traditional ways of doing things behind“ - Ann Linde, former Foreign Minister of Sweden at EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Annual Forum 2024: https://lnkd.in/d7aVJncN The Maritime Industry in Sweden has united around a program dedicated to continuous learning, discussion and improvement of the social work environment – both on ships and in shore-based roles. The topic is of macro-regional importance, hence picked up by our EUSBSR PA Safe. Sjöfartsverket

🌟 The Baltic Sea Region seeks stronger role in EU innovation policy. The #BalticSeaRegion has a significant opportunity to strengthen regions in how they shape the future of regional innovation policy within the European Union. As the EU embarks on the reform of its Cohesion Policy for the post-2027 period, the Baltic Sea Region Smart Specialisation Directors’ Network is advocating for a stronger, more integrated, and place-based approach to innovation: https://lnkd.in/d7axFnFp The session on regional innovation at #EUSBSforum2024 was organised by the BSR S3 Directors Network through Region Västerbotten and Uudenmaan liitto, Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) Baltic Sea Commission and EUSBSR Policy Area Innovation.

Transnational and cross-border cooperation is essential for strengthening the resilience and security of the region, improving the environmental state of the #BalticSea and securing a green transition in the region. Now is the time to discuss the future of transnational and cross-border cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and its funding in the next long-term EU budget, post-2027. Interreg Baltic Sea Region and Central Baltic Programme organised a workshop to discuss the outcomes of the stakeholder consultations at the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2024, #EUSBSRForum2024. https://lnkd.in/diUngg6k

#Ukraine is actively seeking the democratisation of organisations and alignment with EU regulations in society as a whole, as well as in the environmental field. Cooperation and support for Ukraine is a priority for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. “We need to see where we are now, where we want to go, and what we have to do to get there” summarises Torfi Johannesson, Policy Area Bioeconomy Coordinator. Policy Areas Nutri, Bioeconomy, EUSBSR PA Hazards and EUSBSR PA Ship jointly organised a workshop about Empowering sustainable rebuilding of Ukraine at the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2025 #EUSBSRForum2024. https://lnkd.in/dkFjNeYV

Happy Independence Day, Latvia! Priecīgu Neatkarības dienu, Latvija! Today, we celebrate Latvia - one of the eight EU Member States that border the Baltic Sea and form the core of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Together, we are better equipped to build a greener, more prosperous and connected Baltic Sea Region. Thank you for making this cooperation possible! Ārlietu ministrija | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia

Happy Independence Day, #Poland! Szczęśliwego dnia niepodległości! Today, we celebrate Poland - one of the eight EU Member States that border the Baltic Sea and form the core of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. In 2024-2025, Poland holds the Presidency of the Strategy, leading the work in Saving the Sea, Increasing Prosperisty and Connecting the Baltic sea Region. During the Presidency, Poland prioritieses 📣 making every effort to support Ukraine in our work. 📣ensuring the smooth updating process of the EUSBSR Action Plan, to match the current challenges in the region. 📣the inclusive nature of cooperation within the Strategy, well-functioning governance and measurability of the Strategy’s actions, as well as external communication and visibility of the Strategy.

'Resilience does not happen by itself. It is something that we must build together. And I think this is one of the roles of the Strategy - a framework that allows us to work together on the most pressing issues of our time.' Commissioner Elisa Ferreira's speech at #EUSBSRForum2024 successfully captures the role and the value of working together on the macro-regional level.

Last week, we celebrated the 15th EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Annual Forum in Visby, Sweden. Topics on the agenda varied from  🌍 competitiveness and preparedness of the Baltic Sea Region to  sustainable transport systems and energy security.  🌍 The unjustified war in Ukraine and its impact on the region were addressed from different angles throughout the forum.  🌍 This year, the EU post-2027 discussions and Strategy's Action Plan update, which will be finalised during 2025, were also high on the agenda. 🌍 Read a recap here: https://lnkd.in/dkPJvVVE For those of you who missed the forum or wish to return to the discussions on the main stage, recordings of the plenary sessions are now available on our site. Thank you once again for our speakers, moderators, participants and everyone else, who made this event possible. Special thanks to our Policy Area Coordinators, implementing the strategy every day. You'll find some of them here on LinkedIn and all of them on our website: EUSBSR Policy Area Culture EUSBSR Policy Area Education EUSBSR Policy Area Energy EUSBSR PA Safe EUSBSR PA Ship EUSBSR Policy Area Tourism

'An integrated and robust Baltic Sea Region requires a collective effort to reduce our vulnerabilities and strengthen our resilience and preparedness. To face new and ongoing challenges, the Strategy has already started strengthening cooperation between authorities' stated Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in his opening greeting at the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Annual Forum last week. We thank Mr Kristersson for his wice words and support for the Strategy and the cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region! /// Regeringskansliet #EUSBSRForum2024 Interreg Baltic Sea Region Region Gotland The Nordic Council of Ministers and The Nordic Council