Baltic Waves:  Shaping the Future of the Baltic Sea Region (BSR)

The BSSSC Youth Spring Event 2025 took place in a village in the German Bundesland Brandenburg at the education centre Schloß Trebnitz with 40 participants from eight BSR-Countries. 

We discussed the topic, how the region can become democratically more resilient facing the challenges of Artificial Intelligence, energy-supply, hybrid war and political radicalisation in our societies. We discussed with Sabrina Repp, MEP from Rostock, Captain Wegner form the Commander Task Force Baltic, Johannes Funke President of the Committee on European Affairs in the Regional Parliament of Brandenburg, Reiner Kneifel-Haverkamp from the Department on European Affaires Brandenburg Government and Dr. Fuchs from the Helmholtz Centre for Geoscience. Aline Mayr from the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) also fascilitated a workshop on civil security. 

Best weather and Hygge-feeling all week long!

Part 1: Baltic Sea Youth – Shaping Our Future Together

We often hear that democracy is broken — but what can we actually do about it?

Let’s start by recognizing something important: Citizens and politicians are not as far apart as we sometimes think. Politicians also try to do their best. Instead of focusing on conflict, we should focus on conversation. What we truly need is compromise.

As Baltic Sea youth, we feel connected — not just by history and geography, but by a shared responsibility for building an inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful future.

Youth participation is key. To strengthen it, we must continue developing sustainable infrastructure — like offshore wind energy — while protecting our unique environment. This is how we build a strong, connected Baltic community that empowers young voices and helps shape a better future for all of us.

During our simulation, we worked together to manage a crisis in international groups. We experienced many different points of view — and that’s exactly what we need. To solve future challenges, we must understand more about each other and about the Baltic Sea region itself.

One of the key topics we discussed was military service. Should it be mandatory? We agreed that every country must be able to defend itself. While we should talk and collaborate, each country must decide for itself how to reach that goal. A European army may not be the right solution. Each Baltic country has its own history and perspective on war, and that must be respected.

For our security, the top priorities are:

1. increasing the number of soldiers,

2. strengthening cooperation —  especially since we are part of NATO and the EU,

3. and investing in renewable energy sources, which are crucial for both sustainability and resilience.

Together, as Baltic Sea youth, we can lead the way in shaping a safer, greener, and more united future.

Part 2: AI and misinformation in the Baltic Sea Region

Artificial Intelligence is becoming a bigger part of our daily lives in the Baltic Sea Region. From personalized newsfeeds to political campaigns, AI is changing how we access information. But with this powerful technology come serious risks. AI now makes it easy to create realistic fake news, images, and videos — spreading misinformation faster than ever.
This can influence our daily decisions, shape our political opinions, and most dangerously — erode trust and create division within and between Baltic nations.

But there is good news:
AI can also help fight misinformation.
It can quickly detect and flag false content — if used correctly.

However, technology alone is not enough.

What we need is:

• better AI education,

• stronger critical thinking skills,

• and a shared understanding of how AI works across all BSR countries.

It’s crucial for every citizen to know the basics of AI — how it works, how it can be used, and how it can be misused.

To achieve this, we need collaborative educational programs that:

• start teaching AI literacy from a young age,

• respect our region’s linguistic and cultural diversity,

• and encourage critical thinking in the digital age.

This will help us navigate the online world more safely — and build resilience against manipulation.

By understanding both the potential and pitfalls of AI, we empower ourselves as informed and responsible citizens.

Let’s embrace the benefits of AI — while staying vigilant, informed, and united in the Baltic Sea Region.