History

Established in 1992, the CBSS has, over the past 30 years, cemented
its role as a prime intergovernmental forum for the Baltic Sea Region, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity among its member states. Further underscoring its commitment to ensuring close collaboration and streamlined operations, the CBSS Secretariat was set up in 1998.

Pre

Historically, the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) has been a space for diplomacy, trade, migration and cultural exchange, but has also been the theatre of conflicts, with major powers vying for dominance since the Viking ages. Fast-forward, the Iron Curtain, a period of heightened political and ideological division after World War II, was characterised by the separation of Eastern and Western Europe, with the Soviet Union asserting control over large parts of the BSR. This period witnessed restricted movement, cultural isolation, and suppressed political dissent in the East. The détente period, lasting until the Soviet Union’s collapse, brought reduced tensions and better East-West relations. Diplomatic engagement, trade, and cultural exchanges flourished, easing Cold War hostilities. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania saw softened Soviet control, fuelling national identity and independence aspirations. This period laid the groundwork for the major political transformations taking place in the BSR in the 1990s.

Democracy is the political system most conductive to individual freedom, respect for human rights, and economic growth. [We, the CBSS Foreign Ministers] are prepared to protect, support and develop democratic institutions.

— Copenhagen Declaration of 1992, the founding document of the CBSS

1990s

The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) was established in 1992 by the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic Sea countries. In the 1990s, its birth decade, the CBSS focused on fostering cooperation and promoting stability in the region following the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Key aspects included supporting new democracies, encouraging economic and technological assistance, addressing humanitarian and health issues, protecting the environment and promoting sustainable energy, enhancing cultural ties and education, and improving transportation and communication infrastructure. The CBSS aimed to create a platform for dialogue, partnership, and joint initiatives among Baltic Sea nations. The Secretariat of the CBSS was established in 1998.

2000s

The decade of the 2000s was marked by considerable transformation for the CBSS. The expansion of the European Union during this time resulted in the inclusion of multiple CBSS member countries, specifically Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Once the CBSS goal of facilitating the EU accession of some of its members was achieved, the organisation set new priorities and broadened the scope of its work, reinforcing the importance of regional cooperation. Following a comprehensive review process, the CBSS Riga Declaration of 2008 marked a shift towards a more project-based approach, enabling the organisation to focus on tangible outcomes and specific initiatives. This strategic shift allowed the CBSS to concentrate on key areas of collaboration, such as environmental protection, economic development, and social well-being, enhancing the region’s stability and prosperity.

2010s

During the 2010s, a major focus of the CBSS was its commitment to localising the UN Agenda 2030 and facilitating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Baltic Sea Region. By launching the CBSS Baltic Action Plan 2030, its own action plan inspired by the UN Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, the organisation played a crucial role in fostering cooperation among its member states to address environmental, social, and economic challenges, in line with the global sustainability agenda and other macro-regional strategies such as the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). In 2014, the CBSS adopted its three long-term priorities Regional Identity, Sustainable and Prosperous Region, and Safe and Secure Region — all designed to increase the capacity of the CBSS member states to address cross-border challenges. However, the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014 had an impact on the Baltic Sea Region’s cooperation and the work of the CBSS, with the Baltic Sea States Summits — the meetings of the CBSS at the head of government level — and CBSS Ministerial Sessions ceasing to be held.

2020s

As the 2020s unfold, the CBSS continues to adapt to the shifting regional landscape, which has been significantly affected by multiple crises. These include the COVID-19 pandemic, the environmental crisis, climate change, and, most notably, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The latter has brought a raft of consequences to the Baltic Sea Region, such as a geopolitical crisis, an energy crisis, and a humanitarian and migration crisis. Russia has been suspended and subsequently withdrew from the CBSS in 2022. Since then, the CBSS has been working to strengthen regional cooperation and foster a cohesive Baltic Sea Region. The Vilnius II Declaration, a strategic roadmap for the CBSS which was adopted in 2021, has been instrumental in guiding the organisation’s efforts to address the challenges posed by the changing geopolitical situation. It contains a “Vision for the Baltic Sea Region by 2030” (“Vilnius II”), which emphasises the need for stability, security, and prosperity within the region and addresses pressing issues such as environmental protection, sustainable development, civil safety, trafficking in human beings and meaningful youth participation among other topics.