The first BSSSC Day of Cities and Regions took place on 28 October 2025 in Sopot, Poland, bringing together representatives from politics, administration, youth organisations and civil society across the Baltic Sea Region. Hosted by the City of Sopot in close cooperation with the Pomorskie Region, the event created an open space for dialogue, exchange and inspiration at the very heart of the Baltic Sea coast.

This year’s BSSSC signature event especially targeted cities and regions around the Baltic Sea, bringing them together with key actors from the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).

Under the title “Breaking Down the Silos in Baltic Sea Region Cooperation”, the conference focused on enhancing multi-level engagement in Baltic Sea cooperation and on strengthening the exchange and links between different thematic areas and policy-making levels.

The day offered a varied programme of workshops, discussions and networking. In the morning, participants explored multi-level governance and ways to improve regional policymaking, followed by a Future Lab dedicated to shaping the upcoming Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme (2027–2034).
The afternoon featured a panel discussion on security and resilience, addressing the role of regions in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. A fishbowl session brought the voices of young people to the forefront, underlining how intergenerational exchange is key to a stable and forward-looking Baltic Sea Region.

A central moment of the conference was the presentation of the Joint Statement 2025, which summarises the main political conclusions and shared priorities of the BSSSC network. It sets the course for the organisation’s work in the months to come and will serve as a key reference for cooperation across the region.

The conference concluded with a keynote by futurist Florence Gaub, who offered insights into possible futures of the Baltic Sea Region and the need for adaptive, creative governance in uncertain times.

Another highlight of the day was the handover of the BSSSC Chairmanship from the German state of Schleswig-Holstein to the Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia). With this handover, a Baltic region – and a woman, Inese Suija-Markova – take the lead of the BSSSC for the first time in the network’s history since 1993. Minister Werner Schwarz from Schleswig-Holstein emphasised the value of regional cooperation:

“Our strength lies in cooperation across borders and sectors. Security today is about much more than defence – it is about trust, inclusion and our shared ability to find solutions together.”

To close the day, the Baltic Sea Cultural Pearls project invited participants to a cultural evening at the historic St. John’s Centre in Gdańsk. The event demonstrated how culture – in line with the project’s concept – strengthens communities and contributes to social resilience throughout the Baltic Sea Region.

With inspiring discussions, new partnerships and a shared vision for the future, the first BSSSC Day of Cities and Regions in Sopot successfully concluded — setting a confident tone for continued cooperation in the years ahead.