Polish Presidency 2025-2026

Poland holds the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. The Polish Presidency is led by Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, who will serve as the CBSS’s main representative and spokesperson throughout the 2025–2026 term.

On 23 June 2025, Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna symbolically handed over the Chairmanship of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) to Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

Poland holds the presidency of the CBSS from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, taking over from Estonia. The Polish Presidency aims to continue the practical cooperation undertaken and built on achievements of the previous presidencies, in line with the CBSS long-term priorities: 1) Safe and Secure Region, 2) Sustainable and Prosperous Region and 3) Regional Identity. The Presidency is led by Sikorski, who serves as the CBSS’s main representative and spokesperson throughout the 2025–2026 term.

Poland highly values the cooperation within the CBSS, as well as in the framework of four CBSS working groups. At the same time we see the need to strengthen the political pillar of the organisation towards a more focused approach on regional security. Given the fact, that all the CBSS countries are now the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members, it appears natural to use the CBSS as a useful space for discussing pressing security issues in the region, complementary to NATO and its structures, also on ad-hoc basis. At the same time, the CBSS can serve as a like-minded regional group to elevate concerns within the EU, such as advocating for the acquisition of European funding for initiatives such as the Baltic Defence Line and the East Shield.

Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and increased hybrid and disinformation activities, targeted in particularly acute way the Baltic Sea region, require a comprehensive response that goes beyond the traditional understanding of security. The Polish Presidency would like to use CBSS structures to contribute to a better coordination in such areas as protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region as well as countering the shadow fleet. An important aspect will be also ensuring resilience to GPS jamming and spoofing, one of the tools of hybrid threats. The aim would be to establish a common active approach to facilitate immediate regional coordination of incident response, as well as a common interpretation of international law and harmonisation of national legislations. 

The Polish Presidency intends to coordinate CBSS actions in three dimensions: A) strengthening the requirements for mandatory reporting of insurance for ships passing through the Baltic Sea; B) imposing restrictive measures on the entire ecosystem of the shadow fleet; C) intensifying outreach to the flag states. Increased presence (patrols, ship inspections) and progressive national regulations should be used as effective instruments of deterrence. 

On July 1st, Poland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. This is a key political forum that plays an important role in strengthening the security of our region. In the face of the challenges posed by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, we intend to continue our regional cooperation.

Radoslaw Sikorski,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland

A new expert group focusing on security could be set up, aligned inter alia with the MoU on the protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea signed on 16 May 2025 in Vihula by all CBSS members. 

To meet the High-level Wise Persons reports’ conclusions, a novel formulas of cooperation for the safe and stable Baltic Sea region could be established under the CBSS, building on the existing structures and expertise of the organisation. The Polish Presidency is willing to introduce the consultative format of the MFA’s political directors and officials whose responsibilities include security policy to the regular work of the CBSS.

Strengthening cooperation between the Baltic Sea Region countries and Ukraine is one of the crucial components of the security environment. The aim of Polish Presidency is to continue efforts to support Ukraine – a CBSS observer country – and increase Ukraine’s involvement into the CBSS cooperation. 

Continuation of regular cooperation within the framework of the Council of the Baltic Sea States:

Safe and Secure Region

The Civil Protection Network will focus on strengthening preparedness in the Baltic Sea region. The Presidency will prioritise resilience building with the “all hazard” and “whole-of-society” approach, seeking to include both governmental and non-governmental actors. The aim is to develop practical approach to international cooperation focused at strengthening the population’s risk awareness, building sense of integrity and trust in the Baltic Sea region: the basis for a strong, common societal security culture.

The Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings will prioritise national-level actions, with a strong emphasis on identifying and preventing forced labour. In addition, a priority will be given to the development of local and regional task forces as part of the national anti-trafficking system. Opportunities to organise training courses based on the “Handbook for Embassies and Diplomatic Missions on How to Assist and Protect Victims of Human Trafficking” will also be explored.

A key area of our focus will be combating child trafficking, through the strengthening of child protection standards in our region and the enhancement of integrated support for victims, including minors and young adult foreign nationals. Particular attention will be given to improving victim identification, providing training for law enforcement agencies and increasing the capacity of institutions that support families and foster care providers.

The Expert Group on Children at Risk will prioritise national-level actions, with strong emphasis on identifying trafficking cases involving minors, as well as preparing social services and foster care facilities to deliver relevant support, especially highly qualified foster families and educators in institutions, taking into account multi-cultural approach. The collaboration between the Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings and the Expert Group on Children at Risk initiated during the Finnish Presidency will continue. These joint efforts will focus on combating online child trafficking and raising awareness among children and professionals working with them. The potential use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, as a tool to prevent the online recruitment of children by traffickers will also be explored.

The security in the Baltic Sea region will also be strengthened through activities in the field of the European Union maritime security, with particular emphasis on the protection of critical infrastructure and exchange information on surveillance in the Baltic Sea, with the Baltic Sea Region Border Control Cooperation as an important platform of cooperation in this area.

Sustainable and Prosperous Region

The Polish Presidency will strive for innovation and cooperation in new energy technologies, taking into account the key importance of the Baltic Sea for the energy security in the region.

The Expert Group on Sustainable Maritime Economy will continue the work of the previous presidencies in the area of green shipping corridors, aiming at improving the common understanding of the concept, as well as sharing the views and best practices contributing to the potential development of the green shipping corridors in the future. Recognising the Estonian Presidency efforts on the digital twin for the Baltic Sea region, the Polish Presidency will focus on exploring the possibilities of cooperation in the area of collection and exchange of maritime data, taking into account current projects and initiatives undertaken in the countries of the region in order to build awareness and establish cooperation networks.

During its tenure Poland would also like to continue discussion on the unexploded ordnance dumped in the Baltic Sea, with a view to explore whether there is support for establishing constant dialogue for a comprehensive action.

The Baltic Sea Tourism Forum 2025, focused on transferring knowledge to the tourism industry on regenerative tourism, innovations and climate challenges also will be an important element contributing to strengthening the regional prosperity.

Regional Identity

The management of cultural heritage in the Baltic Sea region will play a significant role during the Polish Presidency. This will include supporting the protection of maritime heritage by developing standards and tools enabling the identification, assessment and inclusion of valuable cultural heritage areas in planning processes. Particular attention will be given also to innovative cultural activities for the promotion of the common heritage, as well as initiatives contributing to strengthening international cooperation and regional identity.

The Polish Presidency will promote active and engaged participation of young people in strategic debates, strengthening their position as full partners in shaping the future of the region. The Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum and other similar forms of youth engagement offer a space to build pluralistic intercultural dialogue and search for solutions to the challenges of the modern world.

The Baltic Sea region security and territorial resilience will be enhanced by supporting further cooperation for spatial planning and territorial development within VASAB focusing on strengthening the territorial resilience of the Baltic Sea region.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland

Radosław Sikorski
A graduate of High School No. 1 in Bydgoszcz and Oxford University. He served as a war correspondent in Afghanistan and Angola (1986–1989). In 2002–2005, he was a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., and the executive director of the New Atlantic Initiative. Radosław Sikorski was Minister of Defence (2005–2007), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007–2014), and Speaker of the Sejm (2014–2015). In 2019–2023, he was a Member of the European Parliament, sitting on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Security and Defence Subcommittee. He chaired the Delegation for relations with the United States. He is a Senior Fellow at the Center for European Studies at Harvard.

Chair of the CBSS Committee of Senior Officials

Katarzyna Barcikowska
Head of Baltic Multilateral Unit, European Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.   

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