EU

European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

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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 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 which is based on innovative and integrated long-term approach towards the implementation of EU policies in the Baltic Sea region. The Strategy sets out four main tasks in order to promote sustainable development and competitiveness of the Baltic Sea region:

  • To enable a sustainable environment in the region;
  • To enhance the Baltic Sea region’s economic growth and prosperity;
  • To increase the Baltic Sea region’s accessibility and attractiveness;
  • To enhance safety and security in the Baltic Sea region.

In compliance with the above tasks, the Strategy’s Action Plan includes 15 priorities, in the framework of which it is envisaged to implement about 80 cooperation projects.

The coordination of each of the co-operation priorities set out in the Action Plan has been undertaken by one or more European Union Member States of the region. Co-operation in the field of health is an exception and is coordinated in the framework of the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being.

For every cooperation project, there has been selected a leading partner – an EU Member State, a regional co-operation organisation, an entrepreneur association or a non-governmental organisation.

It is envisaged to regularly review the Strategy and the Action Plan supplementing them with new projects. The first Strategy’s stakeholders annual forum took place in October 2010 in Tallinn.

In accordance with the EU Council’s call, the EC’s Report on the implementation of the strategy is expected in June 2011. The second Strategy’s review forum will take place during Poland’s EU Presidency – on 24–26 October 2011 in Gdansk.

Additional information


Involvement of Latvia in the Implementation of the Strategy

Since May 2008, extensive consultations with stakeholders – sectoral ministries, social partners, entrepreneurs, sectoral associations, municipal governments and non-governmental organisations – on Latvia’s priorities and interests in the forthcoming Strategy have been organised under the lead of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the framework of the consultation process, the following Latvia’s priority fields have been defined:

  • Energy;
  • Competitiveness;
  • Education, research and culture;
  • Environment;
  • Public safety.

In order to coordinate the co-operation of sectoral ministries, social partners and non-governmental organisations in the framework of the Strategy’s implementation, in August 2009, a working group was established by a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers, and it consists of representatives of all sectoral ministries, as well as of social partners – the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia. The involvement of Latvia in Strategy’s implementation at a national level is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Taking into account the fact that the Latvian government has defined energy as the most important co-operation priority in the framework of the Strategy, Latvia together with Denmark has undertaken the co-operation coordination for the energy priority at the Baltic Sea region level in relation with the Strategy.

In each priority field of the Action Plan, one of the sectoral ministries or institutions ensures the finding out of Latvian interests at a national level and their representation at the EU level.


During the phase-in of the Strategy, several events devoted to the Strategy were organised in Latvia.

  • On 9 June 2010, in Riga, jointly organised workshop of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and INTERACT Point Turku on the implementation of the EU’s Baltic Sea Strategy and attraction of funding to projects. More information
  • In September 2010, the role of the Strategy in the region’s development was discussed at the 11th Baltic Economic Forum “European Union’s Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region’s Competitiveness”, which took place in Riga. More information
  • In September 2010, Latvian Politologists’ Association published its collection of studies on the EU Baltic Sea Strategy: EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region: a year after and beyond. The collection of studies has been prepared with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Representation of the European Commission in Latvia and the Nordic Council.


    E-mail address of the national contact point in Latvia: bjs@mfa.gov.lv.