Summary of the minutes

Day of Cities and Regions / EUSBSR Annual Forum 2025, Sopot

The Day of Cities and Regions will take place on 28 October 2025 at the Sheraton Hotel Sopot, with around 200 participants expected to attend. The programme is divided into an interactive morning session and a politically oriented afternoon session entitled ‘Breaking down the silos in Baltic Sea Cooperation’. One focus will be on youth participation through the Baltic Youth Waves for Democracy project.

Supporting programme: city tour and BSSSC dinner on 27 October, cultural networking event in Gdańsk on the evening of 28 October.

The EUSBSR Annual Forum will follow on 29–30 October 2025 at the Radisson Blue Hotel Sopot with over 100 registrations to date, 16 workshops and a broad focus on security. The host is the Pomorskie Voivodeship together with CBSS, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Baltic Sea Strategy Point.

The joint BSSSC statement on the Annual Forum is to be adopted at the online board meeting on 16 October. Input from the rapporteurs will be collected until August.

Thematic discussions & Updates from rapporteurs and expert groups

Cohesion Policy: The revised paper has been adopted. The target groups are the EU Council, Parliament and Committee of the Regions. Another paper responding to the Commission's MFF proposals is to follow in December.

Offshore wind energy: Projects are picking up speed again in the Baltic Sea region, despite safety concerns. The aim is to strengthen the European value chain. Positive developments are also underway in Norway. Energy independence remains a common concern.

Maritime Affairs: In June 2025, the EU adopted the European Ocean Pact, focusing on issues ranging from marine protection to security. For the Baltic Sea region, munitions clearance, underwater cables and the shadow fleet are key issues. The strategy is intended to serve as a guideline for maritime development in the BSR.

Civil Security: Finland presented a new security strategy. The Board wants to strengthen the exchange on crisis preparedness, best practices and regional strategies. Inputs are being collected and will be presented at the next meeting.

Cultural Affairs: Culture is being linked more closely to security and resilience. PA Culture is organising workshops at the Annual Forum and InnoCulture 2.0 in Tallinn. The Cultural Pearls project is coming to an end; the continuation of the network is still under discussion.

Reports from BSR strategies, funding programmes

EUSBSR: New action plan being finalised; publication in 2026. Estonia takes over presidency, focusing on resilience, sustainability, Ukraine, among other things. Norway applies for full membership.

Interreg BSR: Record number of project ideas (244) in the current call; next decisions in 2026. Focus: rural areas, young people, small municipalities.

BSSSC Partnerships: H2-Derivatives@BalticSeaPorts project launched, focusing on green ports and hydrogen. Meeting in Tallinn in September.

Brussels Antenna: EU work on port and maritime strategies; new action programme on cable safety.

Short reports from other BSR organizations

CBSS

Poland will take over the presidency in July 2025. The Vihula Declaration marked the start of the reform process. Important issues remain security, youth participation, child protection and the fight against human trafficking.

BSPC

The conference in August 2025 in Åland will be held under the motto ‘The Baltic Sea – Our Lifeline’. Security, energy, the European Ocean Pact and youth dialogue will be discussed. Schleswig-Holstein will take over the presidency. Jan Diedrichsen is the new Secretary General.

ERB

The Euroregion Baltic will become a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). The first meeting will take place on 28 October 2025 in Sopot, accompanied by a seminar on disinformation in Brussels.

Youth

Youth cooperation

The 2025 Spring Youth Meeting in Trebnitz brought together 40 young people from eight countries – supported by Erasmus+. Topics included security, democracy and artificial intelligence. Erasmus+ funding has once again been secured for the ‘Day of Cities and Regions’ in Sopot, and the Baltic Youth Waves for Democracy 2025 project will involve up to 40 participants. A host is still being sought for the next spring youth event in 2026. In addition, new elections are due to be held for the youth board.

Youth Hackathon

In July 2025, Schleswig-Holstein will host the Baltic Sea Region Youth Hackathon in Lübeck for the third time. Under the motto ‘Borderless Innovation’, around 50 young people will come together.

Upcoming events

24.-25.09.2025  Macro Regional Strategy Days Brussels

7.-9.10.2025 BALTEXPO 23rd International Maritime and Military Fair + Career and Education Day, Gdansk/PL

16.10.2025 3rd BSSSC Board Meeting (online)

26.-30.10.2025 Baltic Youth Waves for Democracy, Sopot/ PL

28.10.2025  33rd BSSSC Annual Conference 2025/Day of Cities and Regions in Sopot/PL (city tour and dinner on 27th)

28.10.2025 Cultural evening presented by BSR Cultural Pearls project at St. John’s church in Gdańsk

29.-30.10.2025  EUSBSR Annual Forum 2025 in Sopot/PL

02.-03.12.2025 4th BSSSC Board Meeting in Brussels

09.-10.06.2026  EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026 in Tallinn/EE