Meet us at the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2021: Revitalise – Recover – Recharge

The 12th Annual Forum will take place from 27 September to 1 October. The Forum will focus on green recovery and will invite the participants to REVITALISE the Strategy, to RECOVER after COVID-19 together and to RECHARGE for greener and more resilient Baltic Sea Region.

The 12th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region will be hosted in Lithuania this year, from 27 September to 1 October. The week-long online event will offer participants the opportunity to take part in 40 discussions and seminars. The main topic of the Forum is green recovery, but the full programme of the event is much broader, including a presentation on the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme for 2021-2027, discussions on the culture’s contribution to green transformation, social challenges of COVID-19 faced by youth, role of the EU macroregional strategies in shaping the EU agenda, and more. CBSS hosts or participates in four different sessions in our three long-term priority areas:

Regional Identity:

online on 28 September 9.00-10.30 (CET)

Senior Advisor Thorvaldur Kristjansson and Programme Coordinator for Baltic 2030 Olga Zuin will participate in a creative panel discussion at CULTURE4CLIMATE: How the cultural section can help to tackle Climate Crisis

Safe and Secure Region:

Children and youth as contributors to resilient Baltic Sea Region

online on 29 September 16:00-18:00 (CET).

The seminar will explore synergies between the work of civil protection authorities, educators, NGOs, social services and law enforcement protecting children and their peers working on increasing children/youth active involvement in making societies more resilient and the entire BSR more safe and secure. Young fire cadets from the Danish Youth Brigades will participate live and tell their stories. The seminar will be moderated by Olivia Lind Haldorsson, Senior Adviser & Head of Children at Risk Unit at CBSS Secretariat.

Sustainable and Prosperous Region:

Green transition in maritime industries

online on 29 September, 15.00 – 17.00 (CET)

The panel will address the question, crucial for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) of clean shipping with the involvement of maritime businesses and and will stress the connection of the Baltic and Arctic perspectives through the engagement of representatives of the neighbouring countries Norway, Iceland, and Russia.

The aim of the panel is to bring different stakeholders together to discuss how to implement these strategies in practice, and to identify joint challenges and opportunities.

Empowering Youth for Green Entrepreneurship

online on 30 September, 16.00 – 18.00 (CET)

The transition towards sustainable economies, in line with the European Green Deal, requires a shift in the business models and in the way we produce and consume goods and services. Already before the pandemic outburst, young people have clearly showed commitment, competence, and good ideas to support the green transition. Policy-makers have increasingly realised the central role the youth can play to shape the future of Europe and of the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Youth inclusion is now incorporated into the EUSBSR, the CBSS Vilnius II Declaration, the Nordic Vision 2030 and many national policy strategies and programmes.

This panel discussion will give a platform to young entrepreneurs from across the BSR to share their insights on how to start a green business and provide their experience regarding existing obstacles and barriers for receiving funding and building a business model.