Polski
The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (SUERMB) covers the macro-region, so its implementation requires the involvement of all stakeholders: civil society actors, regional and national authorities and EU bodies. SUERMB, as the first of the four macro-regional strategies in Europe (SUERMB, the Danube Strategy, the Adriatic-Ionian Strategy and the Alpine Strategy), was a leader in innovation, ecosystems, sustainability-oriented citizens or energy security.
In general, its goal is to save the sea, unite countries and increase the prosperity of their people. It is also important to prepare action plans, the implementation of which can positively affect the Baltic Sea region. SUERMB envisions seeking to have the countries of the Baltic Sea region work together to both protect its waters, develop renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, increase prosperity, promote regional trade and investment, and strengthen interconnections between countries in the region and beyond.
SUERMB Annual Forum
The forums have been held annually since 2010. Their goal is to support the implementation of SUERMB through communication activities related to the achievements of the Strategy, its goals and the potential for future cooperation with respect to a wide range of stakeholders from government (political) circles, member state administrations, European institutions, regional organizations, local authorities and local governments, NGOs, youth, academic, business communities, etc. The Forum is organized each time by one of the SUERMB member states (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland or Sweden).
Forum as a tool for information exchange
The EU Baltic Sea Strategy Forum has been held for 14 years. This year, on October 4-5 in Rydzethe theme of the debate at the SUERMB Forum will be climate issues, green energy, regional cooperation and youth interaction. The watchword is “Safe and Sustainable Baltic Sea Region for Future Generations.”
This year’s Forum will focus on four main objectives:
- exchange of best practices;
- Closer integration in the Baltic Sea region and beyond;
- Creating synergies between different priority areas;
- Creating links between the strategy and the general public.
This year’s SUERMB forum will kick off with nine thematic workshops:
- Workshop 1: Offshore energy and maritime traffic safety – adopting interests.
- Workshop 2: Promoting collaborative decarbonization and climate adaptation in the Baltic Sea region.
- Workshop 3: All hands on deck: a safe and protected Baltic Sea Region through a whole-of-society approach.
- Workshop 4: Strengthen and develop cooperation with Ukraine to enable sustainable reconstruction.
- Workshop 5: SUERMB as an important facilitator of Ocean Mission.
- Workshop 6: The economics of human welfare. A flagship project covering many policy areas for a prosperous and sustainable region.
- Workshop 7: Co-creation of the vision and foundations of the Baltic Sea Region Innovation Valley.
- Workshop 8: Ammunition dumped in the Baltic Sea – environmental, security and other challenges.
- Workshop 9: Youth and culture drive resilient communities in the Baltic Sea Region.
For more information about this year’s Forum, visit eusbsr.eu. Next year, the Forum will be held in Sweden, and in two years, that is. 2025. (It was originally scheduled for 2027, but it was proposed to permanently combine the presidency of the Group of National Coordinators with the organization of the Annual Forums), it will be the third time that Poland will host the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
To better understand the topic of the strategy, I encourage you to read our previous publications:“The EU Baltic Sea Strategy Action Plan” and “The EU Macro-Regional Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.”
