*Photo by Mr Łukasz Tokarczyk, Pomorskie Marshal’s Office

Gdynia, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, provided an inspiring backdrop for the discussions. The first day of the programme offered insights into the city’s development vision, its approach to sustainable urban planning, and its dynamic creative and cultural ecosystem. This understanding set the stage for the strategic conversations that followed.

In the evening, during an official meeting with the leadership of Gdynia and the Pomorskie Region, Inese Suija‑Markova delivered her first address as BSSSC Chair. She highlighted the human dimension of cooperation and the strength of regional partnerships, noting:  “When we cooperate across borders, cultures, and perspectives, we learn to listen, to understand, and to trust.” This message resonated strongly throughout the next day’s deliberations.

The Board Meeting on 11 March, held at Gdynia City Hall, focused on the key challenges and priorities shaping the Baltic Sea Region. The session opened with welcoming remarks from the BSSSC Chair, the Mayor of Gdynia, and representatives of the Pomorskie Region. The Board adopted the BSSSC Working Plan for 2026–2027, placing particular emphasis on societal resilience, civil preparedness, countering hybrid threats, and protecting critical infrastructure. The discussions also highlighted the importance of a green and secure energy transition, including offshore wind development, resilient energy grids, and locally anchored energy solutions.

Sustainable transport and connectivity emerged as another core priority, with attention given to TEN‑T, Rail Baltica, and maritime policy. The Board also stressed the need to integrate youth participation and talent development across all policy areas, as well as to strengthen the role of culture and identity in fostering social cohesion — including through initiatives such as the BSR Cultural Pearls.

A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to the role of regions and cities in shaping European policies. BSSSC partners were unanimous that local and regional authorities must be present at the decision‑making table whenever policies are designed that directly affect people’s lives. The Board confirmed its commitment to actively defending regional interests in the upcoming negotiations on the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework, stressing that the next budget must reflect the needs and realities of the local and regional municipalities of the Baltic Sea Region. Participants also underlined that cooperation at Baltic Sea level is not only a driver of development but also a source of security — it builds mutual trust, strengthens resilience, and ensures that partners can support one another when crises arise.

The meeting also included reports from other Baltic Sea regional organizations, such as the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission, and Euroregion Baltic, demonstrating strong alignment and cooperation across the macro‑region.

Throughout all discussions, one message remained constant: unwavering support for Ukraine. Participants expressed hope that Ukrainian partners will soon be able to join the BSSSC table in one form or another.

The meeting in Gdynia marked a confident and purposeful start to the BSSSC’s work in 2026. With a clear strategic direction, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to strengthening the region’s security, resilience, and sustainable development, the BSSSC continues to serve as a vital cooperation network in the Baltic Sea Region.

About BSSSC

The Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC) is a political network representing regions, cities, and sub‑regional authorities around the Baltic Sea. It strengthens the voice of local and regional authorities in Baltic Sea cooperation and at the European level. For the next two years – 2026 and 2027 – the network is chaired by the Vidzeme Planning Region. More information: https://www.bsssc.com/

Information prepared by Baiba Šelkovska, Communication Manager, Vidzeme Planning Region, Latvia. E-mail: baiba.selkovska@vidzeme.lv

For more information, please contact the BSSSC Secretariat, led by the Vidzeme Planning Region. E-mail: bsssc@bsssc.com