15 Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (SUERMB) is an agreement between the EU member states bordering the Baltic Sea and the European Commission. It promotes mutual cooperation and finds solutions to challenges at the macro-regional level. One form of cooperation is the annual EU Strategy Forum for the Baltic Sea Region. It is organized each time by a different SUERMB member state (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland or Sweden).

The upcoming 15th European Union Strategy Forum for the Baltic Sea Region will be held on October 30-31, 2024 in Sweden. The event provides an opportunity for policy dialogue and the presentation of new challenges to the macro-regional approach.

EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

Covering the Baltic macro-region, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (SUERMB), which aims to save the sea, connect the region and increase prosperity, requires the involvement of all stakeholders, i.e.: civil society, regional authorities, national authorities and European Union (EU) bodies.

SUERMB has three goals:

• To the rescue of the sea;
• Connecting the region;
• Increasing Prosperity.

In order to achieve the adopted goals, the SUERMB Action Plan identifies the most important activities that need to be implemented. These have been divided into areas that are interrelated and contribute to the achievement of the set goals from different points of view and in different ways.

SUERMB seeks to have the countries of the Baltic Sea region work together to both protect the sea, develop renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency and prosperity, promote regional trade and investment, and improve ties between countries in the region and beyond. One form of cooperation is the SUERMB Forum, which is held annually. It provides an opportunity for discussions and joint planning of activities in the Baltic Sea region within the framework of the EU strategy and has been held since 2009.

It is also worth pointing out that SUERMB was the first of the four macro-regional strategies in Europe (SUERMB, Danube Strategy, Adriatic-Ionian Strategy and Alpine Strategy) to lead on innovation, ecosystems, sustainability-oriented citizens or energy security goals.

15th Annual SUERMB Forum

This year the SUERMB Forum will be held on October 30-31 in Sweden. The event is organized by the Gotland County Administrative Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers, in close cooperation with the Government Offices of Sweden, the Norden Sweden Association and the Baltic Sea Strategy Point. Four plenary dialogues are scheduled during the Forum. Three of them are thematic (bioeconomy, transportation and energy, respectively), while the last one is part of the closing session, summarizing the discussions and pointing out actions for the future.

The theme of this year’s forum will be sustainability, resilience and security and will focus on four topics:

• Engagement: The idea is to engage stakeholders to familiarize them with the strategy and to show how the strategy can support their goals. The target audiences are civil society, youth organizations, the business sector, local authorities and Ukrainian stakeholders.
• Co-creation: These are discussions of challenges and proposed solutions in cross-sector, transnational and multi-level cooperation to generate practical results and foster ongoing collaboration.
• Policy dialogue: This is the main focus of the forum, which addresses the strategic goals of the EUSBSR. Key aspects of the strategy and solutions for improving the development of the Baltic Sea region are discussed.
• Networking Village – a social center for informal exchange of opinions and views, starting conversations and cooperation.

For more information about this year’s Forum, visit the website dedicated to the event.

Presidency of SUERMB and the next Annual Forum

Each year, one member state takes over the presidency of SUERMB for the next twelve months. This means implementing the overall strategic guidelines, facilitating the decision-making process and coordinating the work of the National Coordinators Group with the support of the European Commission and the Baltic Sea Strategy Point. The rotating presidency lasts for one year and begins in July and ends in June. SUERMB is currently chaired by Poland.

The Polish presidency supports the implementation of SUERMB’s three overall goals: Save the Sea, Connect the Region and Increase Prosperity. Given the situation in the region, issues related to strengthening resilience and security are a priority. Increasing Ukraine’s involvement in SUERMB activities as a search for various forms of support for the country is also to be one of the challenges.

After Poland, the SURMB presidency will be held by Estonia (July 2025-June 2026), followed by Denmark (July 2026-June 2027). In 2025. Poland will host for the third time, the next 16th Annual EU Baltic Sea Strategy Forum.

SUERMB governance and policy areas

The strategy is managed by the National Coordinators Group, Policy Area Coordinators and Policy Area Steering Groups, the European Commission and the High Level Group.

A key role within the strategy is played by the European Commission, which, through its former Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), has provided strategic support and advice to the Group of National Coordinators in managing and developing the strategy. It also indicates guidelines for participating entities and priorities for strategic frameworks and policies. DG REGIO promotes and coordinates dialogue and stakeholder involvement in the Baltic Sea Region and in all EU macro-regional strategies.

The National Coordinators Group is the main decision-making body within SUERMB’s governance structure, acting as its board of directors. It is composed of representatives from all member countries. The National Coordinators have two types of tasks: on the one hand, they represent their governments in SUERMB, and on the other hand, they perform tasks at the national level.

SUERMB has 14 separate policy areas, which are managed by Coordinators. They are:

• maritime safety and security;
• security;
• biogenes;
• bioeconomy;
• energy;
• education;
• innovations;
• culture;
• urban planning;
• ships;
• transportation;
• tourism;
• threats;
• Health.