On 31 August, BSSSC Chairwoman Inese Suija-Markova addressed the 35th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) in Lübeck, Germany. Speaking on behalf of the Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Co-operation (BSSSC), she highlighted three key principles for cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region: the ability to find common solutions, trust between different levels of governance, and meaningful youth participation in decision-making.

Addressing the conference participants, Inese Suija-Markova emphasised the importance of strong institutions in the Baltic Sea Region. They bring representatives of larger countries and smaller regions to the same table, even though their experiences and perspectives on shared issues may differ significantly. Regular dialogue allows these differences to be discussed and common positions to be reached, even when agreement requires time and compromise.

She also stressed that trust is a strategic asset in cooperation between national and regional levels. Decisions taken in parliaments ultimately affect people’s daily lives in cities and communities. Regional experience and needs should therefore be taken into account from the outset of the decision-making process. This helps create conditions in which people can build a good future where they live, rather than feeling that they have to look elsewhere. Inese Suija-Markova described this as the “right to stay”.

In the final part of her speech, Inese Suija-Markova focused on youth participation in decision-making. She noted that young people are often spoken of as if their role belongs to the future, even though they are already involved in decision-making today. This is reflected in the work of both BSSSC and BSPC: two young representatives currently hold voting seats on the BSSSC Board, while proposals developed through the BSPC Youth Forum are incorporated into the conference’s draft resolution.

“We like to say we are preparing young people for the future. I have come to think we have it backwards. They are already doing the work — on our Board, in your Forum, in the same room deciding the same things. So the question this anniversary puts to us is not whether they are ready for us. It is whether our networks are organized enough to be worthy of them,” said Inese Suija-Markova.

The messages highlighted in her speech are also reflected in the BSSSC resolution “Stronger Regions for a Stronger Europe”, endorsed in Tallinn in May 2026. The resolution emphasises the involvement of local and regional authorities in policy-making and implementation, as well as meaningful youth participation in shaping their communities, policy and Europe’s future.

The 35th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Lübeck concludes on 1 September with the adoption of a joint resolution setting out key political priorities and recommendations for future cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region.

BSSSC is currently chaired by Vidzeme Planning Region, Latvia, which holds the presidency for 2026–2027. It is the first region from the Baltic States to lead BSSSC in the organisation’s history.

Information prepared by Anita Āboliņa, Head of Communications and Public Relations, Vidzeme Planning Region, Latvia. E-mail: anita.abolina@vidzeme.lv

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