Press Release: Norway takes over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States: continuity and cohesion in the face of COVID recovery

The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide will lead the Council of the Baltic Sea States for a year as Norway takes over the Presidency from Lithuania.

The Presidency puts special importance on continuity and cohesion in CBSS work at a time when COVID recovery is on its way in many of the Member States. To that end, Norway, Lithuania and Germany will form the CBSS Troika in this period, together with the CBSS Director General and the Presidency programme will be harmonized with the most recent CBSS decisions and policies, such as the Vilnius II declaration adopted by the Member States’ Foreign Ministers. The implementation of the new Action Plan 2021-25 will also start under the Norwegian Presidency. The European Green Deal will also play an important role for most CBSS member states in the short and longer term.

In line with the CBSS long-term priorities (Regional Identity, Sustainable & Prosperous Region and Safe & Secure Region) as well as the Vision for the Baltic Sea Region by 2030 the Norwegian Presidency will focus on:

  1. accelerating cooperation on the green transition, with an emphasis on innovation and best practice in industry, sustainable transport, clean energy and the circular economy;
  2. fostering regional identity and cooperation, working with young people, civil society, and city and subregional authorities across the Baltic Sea Region;
  3. supporting the successful mandates on civil protection, children at risk and trafficking in human beings, with a strong focus on organised crime and cybercrime.

In addition to that, the Norwegian Presidency will raise relevant issues as necessary. It will also continue to give particular attention to the engagement and involvement of young people in Baltic Sea Region and strengthening coordination between other relevant organisations active in the region.

Norway has already held CBSS Presidency in 1999-2000 and 2010-2011 and the organization will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2022 that will be used to focus attention on past achievements, successful integration and cooperation since the early 1990’s, but also on present challenges and on future opportunities in a region of 11 countries, 168 million people, with an area of 3.8 million km2  (including the Northwest Federal District of the Russian Federation) and 9 % of global GNP.

More information: https://cbss.org/norwegian-presidency/

Press contact:

Paulina Ek
Media & Communication Officer & Team Leader
+46 70 176 40 12
[email protected]