Foreign Ministers Advocate Resilience in the Baltic Sea Region

The CBSS foreign ministers and high-level representatives convened in Porvoo, Finland, and adopted the Porvoo Declaration, which emphasises resilience, societal security, and crisis preparedness in the Baltic Sea Region. 

The foreign ministers and high-level representatives from the countries of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) met in Porvoo, Finland, on 14 June 2024, adopting the Porvoo Declaration, which notably advocates strengthening resilience and crisis preparedness in the Baltic Sea Region.

This declaration was made during the 21st CBSS Ministerial Session, presided over by Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. Finland currently holds the presidency of the CBSS.

CBSS Ministerial Session 2024 in Porvoo. Photo: Haikon Kartano / MFAFinland.

The Porvoo Declaration advocates for strengthened resilience and crisis preparedness, underscoring the necessity of practical cooperation within the Council and consolidating ties among democratic and like-minded states in the region. The declaration further highlights critical areas such as safety, hybrid threats, and societal security.

A notable aspect of the declaration is its reaffirmation of support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing war. The Council condemned Russia’s illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia, an initial member of the CBSS, was suspended from the Council in March 2022 and subsequently withdrew in May 2022. 

The Council further expressed satisfaction with the development of practical cooperation with Ukrainian partners across various levels, including governments, regions, cities, municipalities, civil society, and academia.

The ministers also emphasised the important role of youth in society, welcoming the youth position paper developed during the CBSS Youth Ministerial 2024 held in Helsinki in May. This paper focuses on youth social participation and resilience, stressing the need for meaningful engagement of young people in societal development.

CBSS Ministerial Session 2024 in Porvoo. Photo: Haikon Kartano / MFAFinland.

As Finland’s presidency of the CBSS draws to a close on 30 June 2024, the Council expressed gratitude for its leadership. Under Finland’s tenure, the CBSS prioritised comprehensive security, crisis preparedness, and societal resilience.

Organised by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the 21st CBSS Ministerial Session was held in Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland. It was attended by foreign ministers and high-level representatives from CBSS member states, alongside a high-level representative of the European Union. 

The session also marked the welcoming of Estonia as the incoming CBSS presidency, beginning on 1 July 2024.