Collaborative Efforts within the Baltic Sea Region

The foreign ministers of the Baltic Sea Council recently gathered in Vihula, Estonia, for a crucial meeting on May 15-16, 2025. The focus of the meeting was on further strengthening common security in the Baltic Sea region.

The Baltic Sea Council, established in 1992, was created to support the political and economic transformation of the Baltic Sea region and stabilize the region. The Council, now composed of the eight Baltic Sea coastal states: Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Sweden, as well as Iceland, Norway, and other countries, has evolved into a broad network of interstate cooperation in various fields around the Baltic Sea.

The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), launched in 2009, serves as a key component of this cooperation. The EUSBSR is now one of four macro-regional strategies within the EU, with the task of coordinating regional strategy planning of the Baltic Sea coastal states. The overall steering of the EUSBSR is provided by the Council of the EU.

The EUSBSR hosts an annual forum that serves as a platform for exchange among actors involved in the implementation of the strategy. The forum provides an opportunity for discussions on the progress made, challenges faced, and future plans for the region.

During the Vihula meeting, the Baltic Sea Council's priorities were discussed. The Baltic Sea Council pursues three long-term priorities: creating a regional identity, promoting a sustainable and prosperous region, and promoting a secure region. The Polish presidency, which assumed office on July 1, 2025, has prioritized regional security, protecting critical infrastructure, and addressing the Russian shadow fleet.

In response to Russian aggression, Norway and Iceland suspended all activities with Russia and Belarus in March 2022. Following this aggression, Russia's membership in the Baltic Sea Council was suspended in March 2022, and Russia withdrew from the Baltic Sea Council in May 2022.

The Kingdom of Denmark became a new member of the Baltic Sea Council in May 2022. The secretariat of the Baltic Sea Council is located in Stockholm.

The action plan for the implementation of the EUSBSR focuses on three objectives: Conservation of the Baltic Sea, Connectivity of the region, and Promotion of prosperity. Evaluation of the EUSBSR and its action plan occurs every two years.

For more information about the EUSBSR, its annual forums, and its objectives, visit www.balticsea-region-strategy.eu. For more information about the Baltic Sea Council and its activities, visit www.cbss.org. For more information about the Northern Dimension, visit the unspecified website.