Ongoing Projects

Priority: Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: Eesti Väitlusselts
Participating countries: Estonia (LP), Poland, Lithuania

This project builds societal resilience against hybrid threats and disinformation across the Baltic Sea Region by developing cross-sectoral cooperation and practical, classroom-ready educational materials for students aged 11–19. The project brings together three debating and civic education organisations from Estonia, Poland, and Lithuania, combining their collective expertise in argumentation methodology, media and information literacy, and teacher professional development.

The project recognises that critical thinking and structured argumentation are not merely educational skills, they are civic infrastructure. Citizens equipped to identify, deconstruct, and respond to manipulated information are fundamentally more resilient to hybrid threats. Despite this, the existing landscape of resilience education in the Baltic Sea Region is fragmented, inconsistently resourced, and heavily concentrated at the gymnasium level. This project addresses that gap directly.

Target groups and beneficiaries: primary and secondary school students aged 11–19 across Estonia, Poland, and Lithuania; classroom teachers, particularly those without specialist training in media literacy or critical thinking; and school administrators seeking ready-made, curriculum-aligned materials. Indirect beneficiaries include the broader Baltic Sea Region through the free dissemination of all project outputs.

Priority: Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: Lubuskie Voivodeship – Marshal’s Office of the Lubuskie Voivodeship
Participating countries: Poland (LP), Lithuania, Estonia

Priority: Regional Identity, Sustainable & Prosperous Region, Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: State Digital Development Agency of Latvia (VASAB Secretariat)
Participating countries: Latvia (LP), Poland, Estonia, Germany

Engagement of early-career professionals in decision-making and policy development of the Baltic Sea Region is essential, as EU Youth strategy targets include meaningful youth involvement and dialogue in all stages of decision-making processes.

This project would offer a platform for students currently studying at the Master’s or doctoral level and early-career professionals to collaborate across borders and disciplines on solutions that could strengthen security and resilience in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond.

The main idea is that a group of young professionals from different countries come together and with the support from experts and mentors will work for 5 days on challenges and prepare development proposals for the pressing challenges in the Baltic Sea Region.

The aim of the project is to strengthen societal security and resilience in the Baltic Sea Region by equipping young spatial planners with skills to address emerging risks, including climate change, infrastructure vulnerability, and hybrid threats.

Direct target group is young spatial planning professionals (up to 35 years old and with professional experience up to 5 years) from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Ukraine.

Other target groups and beneficiaries:

• Professional planners’ community
• Universities/higher education institutions
• Local, regional authorities
• Macro-regional institutions

Priority: Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia (VALSTS UGUNSDZĒSĪBAS UN GLĀBŠANAS DIENESTS)
Participating countries: Latvia (LP), Estonia, Lithuania

The aim of the project is to carry out an analysis of the public opinion of the Baltic States regarding evacuation issues in case of possible threats by organising opinion surveys in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The results obtained will be used in planning possible evacuation measures, including planning cross-border evacuation and transit support.

In the context of the current memoranda on cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic countries in the field of civil protection, it is important to carry out an assessment of the potential displacement of the population and the inevitable support. To this end, public opinion surveys will provide answers on possible actions by citizens, which will allow the necessary assessment on people behaviour to be carried out further. The tasks of the action would be to provide information on the number of persons, who would evacuate from the endangered area by their own vehicle and who would like to evacuate outside the Baltic States, as well as the number of residents who should be provided with accommodation support to prepare data-based planning assumptions on the behaviour of residents in the event of evacuation has been identified.

Target groups and beneficiaries of the project: the entire public receiving the service in the event of evacuation. The Interior Ministries of the Baltic States, which cooperate on the basis of the co-operation memoranda concluded.

Priority: Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: University of Latvia
Participating countries: Latvia (LP), Norway, Iceland

Project CPB‑Nord expands the Baltic Sea Region Individual Crisis Preparedness Barometer to two additional CBSS member capitals: Oslo and Reykjavík. Using the established methodology developed at the University of Latvia, the project will generate comparable data on societal risk perceptions, individual preparedness levels, and communication gaps across the region, now including Norway and Iceland. In cooperation with Smart Innovation Norway and Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, the project will conduct urban population surveys in 2026, analyse the results to develop country‑specific best‑practice insights, and disseminate findings through awareness‑raising activities for the public and practitioners. Its overall aim is to strengthen regional understanding of preparedness challenges, support evidence‑based policymaking, and enhance cooperation within the CBSS Civil Protection Network. By providing

timely and actionable data, the project contributes to a safer and more resilient Baltic Sea Region. The project benefits citizens in Oslo and Reykjavík through improved visibility of their risk perceptions and preparedness needs. National and municipal authorities gain new, comparable data to support more effective communication strategies and preparedness planning. The CBSS Civil Protection Network benefits from deeper regional cooperation, while researchers gain expanded methodological continuity and new opportunities for knowledge exchange.

Priority: Regional Identity, Sustainable & Prosperous Region, Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: ARS BALTICA / Nordkolleg
Participating countries: Germany (LP), Poland, Latvia

The Culture Connect project fosters security, resilience, and social cohesion through capacity building activities and community engagement particularly in smaller cities in LT/LV/EE and FI on the border lines. Building on the findings of the BSR Cultural Pearls project, this initiative strengthens the human need for connection—security is not only about physical protection but also about being seen, heard, and understood. Culture Connect aims to support building societies where individuals feel a sense of belonging, as capacity building activities bridge divides, nurture mutual understanding, and strengthen relationships. A strong sense of belonging protects against misinformation and polarisation, fostering resilience, critical thinking, and social trust. Target beneficiaries are local professionals in public authorities, NGOs, civic organisations, and cultural institutions in cities on the borderline. These professionals will enhance their skills and act as multipliers, spreading knowledge and cultural dialogue within their communities. Culture Connect is a two-year project featuring eight ABCD workshops and two conferences. The workshops will use the ARS BALTICA Creative Dialogue (formerly PSF funded) methodology, focusing on participatory, cross-sector approaches. A key deliverable will be a Resilience-toolkit for sustainable community engagement. Culture Connect will expand the BSR Cultural Pearls network, strengthening ties and fostering resilient, inclusive societies.

Priority: Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: HELCOM – Helsinki Commission
Participating countries: Finland (LP), Denmark, Latvia, Ukraine

The goal of the SAFE-BS2BKS project is to transfer and implement the most effective and safe techniques used in the Baltic Sea for managing underwater munitions in the Black Sea region, with a strong focus on environmental security and the sustainability of marine ecosystems, especially in protected areas.

The project leader H9 (the EU and the Contracting Parties to HELCOM that are also Member States of the EU) will leverage its macro-regional network to foster discussions and organize key stakeholder dialogue and workshops. This will provide a substantial input for HELCOM BSAP action S34 while ensuring cross-sectoral multidisciplinary outreach and knowledge transfer to the Black Sea region and Ukraine in particular. Activities will apply proven Baltic methods for assessing and mitigating hazards from submerged munitions, integrating them into marine monitoring and climate adaptation strategies.

Special care will be taken in environmentally protected and sensitive marine areas where sea-dumped munitions can harm biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Black Sea stakeholders will gain essential expertise through this exchange of knowledge and training. The project will develop an Action Plan with recommendations and an outline of future actions for the safe management of unexploded ordnances in the Black Sea, ensuring structured and coordinated marine environmental protection and risk management.

Priority: Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: Latvian Transatlantic Organisation
Participating countries: Latvia (LP), Estonia, Poland

The #JournalismForSecurity project aims to strengthen the capacity of local journalists in Latvia, Estonia, and Poland to counter disinformation and enhance community resilience. Led by the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, the project addresses challenges faced by regional journalists, including limited resources, digital literacy gaps, language barriers, and lack of collaboration.

By providing intensive training on digital media literacy, crisis communication, and ethical reporting, the project equips journalists to identify, analyse, and counter disinformation. Practical workshops, simulation exercises, and hands-on learning ensure that journalists gain real-world skills. The project also fosters cross-border collaboration, building sustainable networks among media professionals from Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.

The primary beneficiaries are local journalists from small regional outlets who gain enhanced skills and access to professional networks. Media organisations benefit through improved reporting standards, while communities receive more accurate information, boosting public trust. By promoting regional cooperation and aligning with the Council of the Baltic Sea States goals of fostering free and independent media, the project contributes to a resilient and informed Baltic Sea Region. It ensures that journalists become proactive actors in countering disinformation, fostering media integrity, and strengthening social cohesion.

Priority: Regional Identity
Project leader: NGO Mondo
Participating countries: Estonia (LP), Latvia, Lithuania

The Baltic Model United Nations (BalticMUN) project aims to strengthen regional identity and societal resilience in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) by engaging young people from UNESCO’s Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. ASPnet connects nearly 10,000 schools across 181 national networks, operating at international and national levels to promote education for sustainable development, global citizenship, and intercultural learning. In the Baltic countries ASPnet connects 115 educational institutions: 65 from Estonia, 35 from Latvia, and 15 from Lithuania.

The project, implemented from January 2026 to June 2027, will include national prevents in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, culminating in a four-day youth conference in spring 2027 in Latvia. It directly supports the CBSS Regional Identity priority, fostering a shared sense of belonging through culture, education, and policy dialogue. BalticMUN will offer young people a platform to address regional challenges. In addition, UNESCO ASPnet teacher workshops will help educators support youth engagement and regional awareness. Target groups include 15–19-year-old students from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, including Ukrainian refugees from all three Baltic countries, and educators involved in global and civic education. Beneficiaries of the project—students, teachers, youth organizations, and cultural institutions—will gain valuable skills, networks, and insights into the shared identity of the region.

Priority: Regional Identity
Project leader: Nodibinajums “ILGTSPEJAS FONDS” / Media Hub Riga
Participating countries: Latvia (LP), Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark

The aim of the project is to encourage youth journalists and journalism students in the Baltic Sea Countries on an innovative, intercultural basis to develop ideas for addressing the challenges related to the use of AI technologies in media, as well as ideas for strengthening reliable information in media.

The digital revolution has created a media landscape where AI-generated content without critical journalistic quality is spreading, and where many young people prefer their information from social media with a high risk of dis- and misinformation, propaganda and hate speech – and all with a lack of moderation. This development weakens the public’s trust in the media, and it undermines the role of journalism as the “fourth power”. To restore trust, improve journalism education programs so they offer the skills to navigate the media landscape of the future, we will organise a four-day innovation lab for Baltic journalism students, youth journalists and educators. They will have the opportunity to develop and present ideas that can strengthen the next generation of journalists, their attractiveness across other industries and their role in democracy. The project will take the students on a learning safari across disciplines in collaboration with editors, media actors, AI experts and lecturers. They will explore global challenges, develop innovative solutions and present their ideas in a final pitch to experts and decision makers in media policy.

Priority: Sustainable & Prosperous Region
Project leader: Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation
Participating countries: Estonia (LP), Poland, Finland, Ukraine

The project aligns with the BSR priority “Sustainable and Prosperous Region” by focusing on climate change mitigation, cultural heritage preservation and biodiversity protection in coastal communities—both maritime and large lake regions – in Poland, Estonia, Norway, Finland, but also Ukraine. The project target mainly communities from Ustka and Espoo (Baltic Sea cost municipalities in Poland and Finland), Mustvee (Lake Peipsi coast, Estonia), Odesa (Ukraine, Black Sea port city).

The key topics and activity areas are: a)Climate action and cultural heritage – We develop community action plans to protect both natural and cultural assets, ensuring that climate adaptation measures support local identity, traditional knowledge and biodiversity conservation; b) Empowerment of local communities and civil society -through community labs, study tours and pilot actions; contributing to the wider goal of resilient societies; c) Cross-border cooperation and peer learning between Baltic Sea Region communities and with Ukraine; to transfer community-driven solutions and models. Through interactive workshops, study visits, and co-creation sessions, the project aims to empower communities with practical tools to adapt to climate change while strengthening grassroots democracy. Additionally, it should facilitate small-scale local actions (e.g. heritage gardens, flood-proofing traditional buildings), and provide financial support for community-led projects).

Priority: Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: Visuomeninė organizacija “Gelbėkit vaikus”
Participating countries: Lithuania (LP), Estonia, Latvia, Finland

The Child participation Initiative for Child Protection Systems project (CHIPS) strengthens child participation in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland and uses it practically to improve Integrated Child Protection Systems (ICPS) in the countries. The project consists of transnational and national events where children, helped by CHIPS partners, identify the issues that ICPS should address and develop actionable, practical proposals to authorities to improve them. We plan one transnational event in Tallinn with child representatives, staff of CHIPS members, authorities, academia, CSOs, and experts from Save the Children Sweden’s youth organization as external advisors, to experiment with child participation methods and discuss ICPS issues (WP1). We later conduct one workshop with children per country, using methods defined in Tallinn, to discuss how each country’s ICPS can be improved (WP2). We then turn children’s ideas into actionable advocacy points for national authorities and disseminate them among other CSOs (WP3).

WP1 involves 8 children, 8 caregivers, 10 staff from CHIPS partners, 2 from SC Sweden’s youth organization, and 16 experts from authorities, universities and other CSOs. WP2 gathers at least 10 children and 10 caregivers per country. For WP3, partners reach at least 20 CSOs per country and three EU-wide networks for dissemination; for advocacy, they engage with two relevant institutions per country, to secure a commitment on at least two action points.

Priority: Safe & Secure Region
Project leader: Zatoka Foundation
Participating countries: Poland (LP), Germany, Estonia, Sweden

Building on the success of YoPeNET and YoPeNET 02 projects (2020–2022, 2022-2024, CBSS PSF), which promoted youth engagement and regional cooperation, YoPeNET-FUTURES aims to strengthen resilience, sustainability, and democratic engagement in the Baltic Sea Region. It integrates strategic foresight with capacity building for young researchers and leaders, equipping them to anticipate and address future challenges. The project has two phases:

Foresight research: A Delphi study with regional experts to explore governance, economic transitions, and sustainability. Baltic Futures Summer School: A seven-day training for Master’s students, PhDs, and young professionals combining expert input, scenario-building workshops and participatory foresight to co-develop policy recommendations. YoPeNET-FUTURES bridges youth and policymakers, fostering cross-border collaboration and empowering young people (future policy implementers) to shape democratic futures and navigate uncertainties, disinformation, and socio-ecological transformations.

Target groups:

Core Group: Youth (20–35) with academic backgrounds in political science, sociology, economics, and related fields.

Partner Group: Policymakers, NGOs, academia, and civil society organizations. Outcomes will support policymaking, academic research, civil society engagement, and economic development through foresight tools and inclusive dialogue.