Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum Welcomes New CYR Members in 2025 Elections to Drive Regional Cooperation

On Thursday, 24 April 2025, the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF) conducted its third annual elections online, with over 40 participants actively electing new members to both its legislative body, the Committee of Youth Representatives (CYR), and its executive body, the Steering Group (SG). The event reinforced the forum’s position as a powerful, youth-led initiative, dedicated to fostering collaboration and promoting the role of young people in shaping the future of the region.

This year’s elections resulted in the appointment of 20 members to the CYR—passionate youth leaders who will help shape the future of youth cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. Twelve of them were newly elected from a pool of 28 individual candidates, while five members were re-elected and three will continue their two-year term. The newly elected CYR for the 2025/2026 term consists of nationals and residents of nine of the CBSS member states. 

“BSRYF is a meaningful expression of youth celebrating youth. We connect, discuss, deal with regional politics, cultural differences: all in dedication the Baltic Sea Region!” said Simona Jakaitė, re-elected for the second year in a row as CYR Chair and a former intern at the CBSS Secretariat. She further emphasised the significance of the forum for including the youth voices in Baltic Sea Region cooperation.

The Steering Group retained its structure, with both the Regional Youth Council of Schleswig-Holstein and ReGeneration 2030 holding their positions. The SG is composed of five members, including two from BSRYF partner organisations and three from the newly elected CYR.

Congratulations to all the newly elected members! The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) is proud to support this new chapter of youth leadership and looks forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the coming term.

The BSRYF continues to invite participation from youth organisations and individuals across the region. Those who were not elected are encouraged to stay involved through a variety of other initiatives like working groups, projects, and events, contributing to regional dialogue and youth advocacy.

Established in 2023 with support from the CBSS, the BSRYF serves as a pan-Baltic platform that empowers young people to voice their perspectives, foster intercultural understanding, and play an active role in shaping regional policy. The forum remains committed to building a vibrant and collaborative Baltic Sea Region, driven by meaningful youth participation.

For further information about the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum, visit the CBSS Youth website: https://cbss.org/youth/