Finnish Presidency 2023-2024

On 1 July 2023, Finland assumed the presidency of the CBSS, taking over from Germany. Under its presidency, Finland notably focuses on strengthening both the political dimension and the practical cooperation of the CBSS. The cross-cutting themes of the presidency will be comprehensive security, crisis preparedness and resilience in the Baltic Sea Region. The Finnish Presidency is led by Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Elina Valtonen.

Finland is committed to completing and implementing the reforms agreed upon during the previous presidency to ensure the CBSS can effectively address the evolving circumstances in the region.

Recognising the CBSS as a valuable platform for agile political discussions on current issues, Finland utilises this forum to promote practical cooperation based on the three long-term priorities of the CBSS: Safe and Secure Region, Sustainable and Prosperous Region, and Regional Identity.

With a keen understanding of the challenges posed by significant crises in the Baltic Sea Region, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, climate change, and biodiversity loss, Finland places a strong emphasis on security-related issues. Strengthening the CBSS’s existing strengths is a key focus, while concurrently addressing the impact of these critical issues.

Further information about the Finnish Presidency of the CBSS and its priorities can be found in the official presidency programme:

Resources:

• Presidency programme of the Finnish Presidency
• Presidency press release on the Finnish MFA website
• CBSS press release on the Finnish Presidency
• Annual report of the Finnish CBSS Presidency 2023-2024