Previous Presidencies
The Presidency of the Council rotates annually between the CBSS Member States, spanning from 1 July to 30 June each year. The rotation order for the CBSS Presidency follows this sequence: Finland, Estonia, Poland, Iceland, Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, Lithuania, Norway, and Germany. After completing this cycle, the rotation begins anew.
Previous Presidencies of the Council of the Baltic Sea States
German Presidency 2022-2023
On 1 July 2022, Germany took over the presidency of the CBSS from Norway. Under its presidency, Germany notably focused on offshore wind energy, dumped munitions and youth in the Baltic Sea region. The German Presidency was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Annalena Baerbock.
Norwegian Presidency 2021-2022
On 1 July 2021, Norway replaced Lithuania as Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Based on the three long-term CBSS priorities, the CBSS reform process concluded in 2020 and the new Vision for the Baltic Sea Region by 2030, the Norwegian Presidency 2021-2022 focused on three overall aims. All of these were relevant in the context of climate action, post-pandemic recovery and region-wide cohesion. The Norwegian Presidency was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide.
Lithuanian Presidency 2020-2021
On 1 July 2020, Lithuania took over the Presidency of the CBSS from Denmark, and its chairmanship was devoted to four achievable, practical and visible priorities:
- sustainable development, especially in the field of developing green industry;
- green and maritime tourism as important sector in reviving regional economy, increasing the Region‘s visibility, giving employment opportunities to young people;
- civil protection in the Region, strengthening resilience in the Region against major emergencies and disasters;
- fight against human trafficking for labour exploitation in the Region, as well as prevention of violence against children
Danish Presidency 2019-2020
Denmark took over the Presidency from Latvia on 1 July 2019. Together with Germany, Denmark founded the CBSS in 1992, and the third Danish Presidency was devoted to concluding the reform process of the Council and the Secretariat initiated in 2018. The overriding priority of the Danish Presidency was therefore to ensure the implementation of the CBSS Reform Roadmap, in order to bring more focus and flexibility in the work of the CBSS, improve cooperation with other international fora and formats active in the region, and enable concrete results in areas in which the CBSS in uniquely suited to add value.
Latvian Presidency 2018-2019
In a year that has marked the 100th anniversary of a number of the CBSS Member States, including Latvia, the Latvian Presidency, focusing on priorities of Integrity & Societal Security, Dialogue and Responsibility, can be proud to wrap up its chairmanship in the CBSS with the Jūrmala Declaration and a Roadmap.
Swedish Presidency 2017-2018
In 2017 Sweden took over the chairmanship in the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Barents Euro-Artic Council, the Nordic Council and in the UN Security Council.
Sweden’s work in all the Councils continued to derive from the core values of Swedish diplomacy: international law, human rights, gender equality and a humanitarian and feminist perspective aiming for peace and security for everyone, putting women and children in focus.
Icelandic Presidency 2016-2017
On 1 July 2016, Iceland took over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The priorities of the Icelandic Presidency were children, equality and democracy, which Iceland believes form the foundation for a shared, sustainable and secure future for the region and its inhabitants.
Polish Presidency 2015-2016
On 1 July 2015, Poland took over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The priorities of the Polish Presidency were sustainability, creativity, safety and synergy in diversity. During its presidency, Poland enhanced coherence and synergy among various stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region, including the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
Estonian Presidency 2014-2015
On 1 July 2014, Estonia took over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The priorities of the Estonian Presidency were practicality, efficiency and cooperation. Estonia placed a focus on the practical implementation of the new CBSS long-term priorities, approved by the previous CBSS Finnish Presidency, through stakeholder roundtables, projects and activities.
Finnish Presidency 2013-2014
On 1 July 2013, Finland took over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Finland undertook an ambitious programme during the year the Foreign Ministry chaired the Council of the Baltic Sea States, which ultimately culminated in three new long priorities for the organisation. Finland emphasised the continued need for coherence and cooperation between the various organisations that provide the architecture for Baltic Sea Region cooperation.
Russian Presidency 2012-2013
On 1 July 2012, Russia took over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. One of the key characteristics of the Russian Presidency was the principle of continuity. It intended to continue to some extent the work on the topics which have been the CBSS priorities during the past year: sustainable development, energy, maritime policy. Another direction of its Presidency was modernisation as a new and important stage of reforming the Council oriented to project activities and innovative development of the region.
Under its Presidency Russia promoted the CBSS long-term priorities: economic development, environmental protection and sustainable development, education and culture, energy, civil security and human dimension.
German Presidency 2011-2012
On 1 July 2011, Germany took over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The leitmotif and orientation point of the German Presidency focused on the topic of energy. Energy Security was the chosen topic for the Extraordinary CBSS Ministerial Session in February 2012 representing a fresh new foreign policy angle for the Council.
Alongside the German Presidency Priorities for the organisation itself, the Presidency set out to use it’s period at the helm of the CBSS to further work on creating a “coherent framework for cooperation” in the Baltic Sea Region.
The engagement and participation of youth and by extension the general public into the halls of regional cooperation became a natural extension of the German Presidency during the Baltic Sea Days held in Berlin in April 2012.
Norwegian Presidency 2010-2011
On 1 July 2010, Norway took over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The priorities of the Norwegian Presidency included maritime policy and counter-trafficking. with a special focus on making the Council more visible and action-oriented.