On 11 May 2026, the Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC) will host the Day of Cities and Regions in Tallinn, Estonia. The event's theme is “Co-Governing Resilience: Shaping Secure, Connected and Thriving Societies”.

This event will bring together mayors, regional leaders, policymakers, young people and programme stakeholders from across the Baltic Sea Region. Together, they will discuss how cities and regions can strengthen security, resilience and competitiveness in times of growing geopolitical uncertainty.

The discussions will focus on safeguarding critical infrastructure such as cables, pipelines, ports and supply chains against hybrid threats, while simultaneously reinforcing social cohesion, democratic values and sustainable local development. Keynote contributions will address the economic competitiveness and geopolitical resilience of the Baltic Sea Region, highlighting the close links between security, demography and long-term prosperity.

A high-level panel of mayors and regional leaders will discuss how local and regional authorities can cooperate with national and international partners to attract and retain talent, support remigration, and strengthen border and rural communities. Interactive formats, including a Project Village and a live Policy Wall, will enable participants to exchange practical solutions and concrete policy proposals.

A central part of the programme will be a Policy Lab organised in a World Café format and co-hosted by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Secretariat, which will examine how the policy areas of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) can contribute to security, connectedness, economic resilience and competitiveness. This will examine how the policy areas of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) can contribute to security, connectedness, economic resilience and competitiveness together. The outcomes will inform discussions on the post-2027 Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme and the future EU Cohesion Policy.

The event will conclude with the endorsement of key policy messages to be submitted to the EUSBSR Annual Forum and shared with EU institutions, national governments, and programme authorities. These messages will emphasise the importance of maintaining a robust, decentralised Cohesion Policy and adequately funding Interreg programmes beyond 2027.

Further information on the programme and registration will follow in due course: https://onlineexpo.com/en/eusbsraf/