Starting from October, the regional cooperation of EU countries bordering the Baltic Sea has a joint coordination hub in Finland and Germany. The newly established Baltic Sea Strategy Point will act as a support unit for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.  

 

A macro-regional strategy is an integrated framework endorsed by the European Council to address common challenges defined by the participating countries to strengthen cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and to find solutions to challenges, which are cross-border by nature: saving the Baltic Sea, fighting climate change, connecting the region, and increasing prosperity.  

 

“Turku is an active stakeholder of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Our role in this regional cooperation will become even stronger in the coming months and years as the EU member states have decided to establish a Baltic Sea Strategy Point to the cities of Turku and Hamburg. This will not only strengthen our cooperation with countries, regions, and cities in the Baltic Sea Region itself but also broadens our cooperation on the European and EU level.” Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku. 

 

“Cooperation in the Baltic Sea region has become even more important after Russia started this war of aggression against the Ukraine which is in clear violation of international law. Many Baltic Sea countries share a border with Russia. The new security situation means that it is more important than ever to work on the cohesion and sustainability of the Baltic Sea region. The EU Baltic Sea countries cooperate in the expansion of energy infrastructure, but also in many other future fields such as innovation, science and civil protection. Through the Baltic Sea Strategy Point, the new secretariat of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, Hamburg will be able to make an even more active contribution to strengthening the Baltic Sea region than before.” State Secretary Almut Möller, Plenipotentiary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg to the Federation, the European Union, and for foreign affairs. 

 

Implementation of the Strategy is a joint effort of all relevant stakeholders in the region, i.e. EU member states, regional and local authorities, and inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies. The Strategy Point has a key role in coordinating the work and bringing the geographically and thematically wide-spread actors together for more efficient implementation.   

 

“Baltic Sea Region cooperation has never been as important as it is today. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region can be used as a central cooperation format in developing the cooperation in the region. Unity is needed in order to overcome obstacles.” - Minna Arve. 

 

The Baltic Sea Strategy Point provides administrative and technical support for EUSBSR management, development, and communication.
See contact details of the team.