Published: 04.07.2023.
Updated: 03.10.2025.
European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

On 15 November 2005, seven MEPs from the Baltic Europe Intergroup of the European Parliament – Toomas Hendrik Ilves (Estonia); Satu Hassi, Henrik Lax and Alexander Stubb (Finland); Michael Gahler (Germany); Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis (Latvia); Christopher Beazley (UK) – issued a report on the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, directing the attention of the European Commission and the Council of the EU to emerging challenges in the field of environment, economy, education and security faced by north-eastern Europe following the EU’s enlargement.

On 14 December 2007, on the basis of the EU Parliament Resolution of 16 November 2006, the European Council called on the European Commission to develop a Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. On 10 June 2009, the European Commission adopted a Communication concerning the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (hereinafter – Strategy, or EUSBSR) and an Action Plan for its implementation. The Strategy was adopted by the European Council of October 2009.

This Strategy is the first EU internal strategy for a European macro-region and is based on an innovative and integrated long-term approach towards the implementation of EU policies in the Baltic Sea region. It comprises the EU Member States of the Baltic Sea Region – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden.

The three overall objectives of the Strategy were defined in 2012:

  • Save the Sea,
  • Connect the Region,
  • Increase Prosperity.

Sub-objectives have been set out under each objective, specifying the result to be achieved.

Holding the Presidency means overall strategic guidance, facilitation of decision-making and coordination of the National Coordinators Group with support from the European Commission and the Baltic Sea Strategy Point.

The rotating Presidency lasts for one year starting from July and ending in June; its order is set in the Rules of Procedure of the National Coordinators Group.

Latvia held the Presidency in the Strategy’s National Coordinators Group from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. During this time, Latvia organized and chaired the meetings of the National Coordinators Group and set their agenda. The Latvian Presidency saw the approval of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for the Strategy and the Strategic Communication Guidelines; the updating of the Action Plan approved in 2021 was initiated.

The current Presidency holder is Estonia (01.07.2025 – 30.06.2026), and Denmark is taking over next (01.07.2026 – 30.06.2027).

On 17 February 2021, the European Commission released an updated edition of the Action Plan. This Action Plan is more focused than the previous one, with 14 Policy Areas covering 44 actions.

Each priority relates to a main objective in the Strategy; the issues under each priority have been described, and specific targets and indicators have been defined to resolve the issues. Each Policy Area includes Flagship projects demonstrating the progress of the Strategy and serving as pilot examples for positive change.

Each of the cooperation projects has a lead partner appointed – an EU Member State, an organization of regional cooperation, an association of entrepreneurs or an NGO.

One or more European Union Member States of the Baltic Sea region and regional organizations have undertaken the coordination of each area of cooperation policy set out in the Action Plan. Latvia together with Lithuania continues as a coordinator for Policy Area Energy and promotes the introduction of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP).

The revision of the Action Plan comes as a response to global change – climate change, pandemics, demographical change, migration, and the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021–2027.The updated Action Plan is planned to be approved during the Estonian Presidency in the first half of 2026.

Regardless of changes, the three main objectives of the Strategy – “Save the Sea”, “Connect the Region”, “Increase Prosperity” – remain the same. Sub-objectives specifying the result to be achieved have been defined under each objective.

Since 2010, Annual Forums have been the most prominent events for the Strategy traditionally bringing together the region's officials, experts, members of the academic community, stakeholders representing regional organisations, public institutions and NGOs, who engage in discussions on topics relevant to the region’s prosperity and ways to cooperate for the implementation of projects vital for the region.

During the Latvian Presidency, on 4 and 5 October 2023, Riga hosted the Annual EUSBSR Forum, Safe and Sustainable Baltic Sea Region for the Future Generations. Its focus was placed on green energy, climate and youth participation. The official organisers of the forum were the Riga City Council, the Union of the Baltic Cities, and VASAB - Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For updates on the Annual Forum see: eusbsr.eu

National Positions

Latvia has contributed to the shaping and drafting of the EUSBSR since the moment the idea was conceived. Consultations were held with stakeholders in Latvia, and a dialogue took place with the region’s countries and the European Commission.

As early as in 2008, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers approved an initial national position on the EUSBSR which set out priority areas based on the evaluation of opinions offered by line ministries and stakeholders in the framework of the consultation process. Those were:  1) Energy; 2) Competitiveness; 3) Education, research and culture; 4) Environment; 5) Public safety. From Latvia’s perspective, a well-developed Baltic Sea Region will contribute to the increase of the overall competitiveness in the EU and make the eastern rim of the Baltic Sea more competitive.

In December 2008, in order to provide a contribution to the drafting of the Action Plan for the Strategy, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a national position identifying the regional cooperation projects that Latvia supported including in the plan.

In August 2009, having considered the European Commission’s proposal on the Strategy and its Action Plan, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the national position reflecting Latvia’s opinion on the implementation and management of the Strategy and its Action Plan and setting out procedures for the coordination of that process in Latvia.

The directions of regional cooperation important for Latvia include the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan and its implementation, a coordinated development of the Trans-European Transport Network and its connections with countries neighbouring the EU, increasing the competitiveness of logistics services, ensuring the border crossing capacity at the EU’s external border, development of a common area of education and research in the Baltic Sea Region, and cross-border cooperation in the assessment and prevention of environmental pollution.

Coordination of Cooperation at the National Level

In August 2009, in order to coordinate co-operation between ministries, social partners and non-governmental organisations in support of the implementation of the Action Plan, a working group was established by a Cabinet of Ministers decision, its membership representing all line ministries and the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia. In 2012, representatives from the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments and the Cross-Sectorial Coordination Centre were also included in the working group. Latvia’s involvement of in the implementation of the EUSBSR at the national level is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 15 July 2025, the Cabinet adopted an order on the renewed composition of the working group.

In each Policy Area outlined in the Action Plan, one of the line ministries or institutions ensures the identification of Latvia’s interests at the national level and their representation at the EU level.

Three steps towards practical involvement in the implementation of the Action Plan

  1. Study the Action Plan and its summary of the ongoing and planned cooperation in the region in line with the 14 Policy Areas.
  2. Contact the National Coordinator for the EUSBSR (bjs@mfa.gov.lv) or the Focal Point in Latvia, which coordinates the cooperation priority of your interest.
  3. Contact the coordinator of the respective Policy Area and potential cooperation partners in the region.

Funding Sources for the Strategy’s Projects

The Strategy can serve as an effective tool for putting in practice EU policies in the Baltic Sea Region to promote a coordinated use of the EU’s and other financial resources available in the region in the implementation of the policy areas defined within the Strategy framework. The Strategy does not offer additional funding; however, it is possible to receive significant support under various EU programmes and funding instruments.

The European Social Fund+, the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for rural development and the European Fisheries Fund are the main sources of funding for the Strategy. At the same time, the Strategy and the activities and projects under its Action Plan can also be financed from other sources – Horizon 2020, the joint Baltic Sea research and development programme (BONUS), the LIFE programme, education and culture programmes, and the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme.

Funding can also be drawn from national, regional or private sources. Besides, projects in the transport, energy and ICT sectors can apply for funding from the Connecting Europe Facility. Larger projects can attract additional funding from international financial institutions – the European Investment Bank and the Nordic Investment Bank.