Bornholm, Denmark

Danish Presidency 2019-2020

Safe & Secure Region

Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings

Conference on Harmonizing Anti-Trafficking Practices

⚲ Warsaw, Poland

The final event of the transnational project “Paving the Way for the Harmonized Operational Framework in the Baltic Sea Region (HOF-BSR)” was organised together with the Ministry of the Interior and Administration of Poland in Warsaw, Poland. At the conference, the results of the project were launched in the form of a Transnational Referral Mechanism for the Baltic Sea Region, a Human Trafficking Glossary and Guidelines for Journalists reporting on cases of human trafficking. The event was also an opportunity to share good practices with partners and authorities.

Media and trafficking seminars

⚲ Stockholm, Sweden

The CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) hosted two panel discussions for  students of journalism on media coverage of human trafficking. The experienced panellists included the editor in chief of Södertörn University’s “Baltic Worlds” magazine Ninna Mörner, Swedish Radio’s journalist Maria Ridderstedt, lawyer Karin Gyllenring from Asylbyrån and Per Englund from the Swedish Police Authority. Among topics discussed were the status of the media coverage of human trafficking in Sweden, the legal difficulties when working with victims of trafficking without legal stay in their county of destination as well as the importance of victims telling their stories.

Expert Group on Trafficking in Human Beings

⚲ Copenhagen, Denmark

Three meetings of the CBSS Task Force of Trafficking in Human Beings were organised during the Danish Presidency. In November 2019 and March 2020, the Task Force met in Copenhagen and in May it held a meeting online. The Presidency provided the Task Force with an opportunity to evaluate its previous projects and initiatives as well as to organise a two-day workshop “Developing effective regional anti-trafficking strategies and programmes”, in order to create a new and comprehensive Strategic Plan for the work of the Task Force during the next mandate period. The process involved evaluation of previous efforts, which was very valuable for Task Force members and served to further align Member States’ perspectives on the role of the Task Force in the anti-trafficking work in the Baltic Sea Region.


Child Protection

Barnahus Network Launch

⚲ Helsinki, Finland

Barnahus colleagues and stakeholders from all over Europe gathered in Helsinki on the 25th of November 2019 to celebrate the first steps towards a more formal network of Barnahus and similar services in Europe, represented by the signing of the statutes for the PROMISE Barnahus Network. An exhibition showcased strong support for the network in the testimonials of both professionals and children about the impact of Barnahus in their lives. The exhibition enhanced the visibility of individual Barnahus from all around Europe.

Promise 3 launch

During May and June 2020, a series of 14 online meetings brought together more than 70 of the PROMISE project colleagues to inform and be informed about the activities and opportunities that a third phase of PROMISE activities brings to the expansion of Barnahus in Europe. PROMISE 3 is an EU co-funded project which is designed to kickstart the activities planned in the 5-year strategy of the PROMISE Barnahus Network. These activities include university level training in the areas of forensic interviewing and therapy, with a view to establishing a European Competence Centre for Barnahus. 

New mandate and strategy adopted for CBSS Children at Risk Unit

During the last CBSS Children at Risk Expert Group meeting under the Danish Presidency, the Expert Group finalised the new Children at Risk Mandate and Strategy for 2020-2025. In these documents, the Expert Group agreed that it will continue to stimulate dialogue and exchange on cross-border concerns, to develop and nurture strategic partnership and to contribute to the development and implementation of projects promoting children’s rights and bolstering national child protection systems.


Civil Security

Baltic Excellence Programme in Civil Security

⚲ Tinglev, Denmark

The Danish Emergency Management Agency, DEMA chaired the CBSS Civil Protection Network during the Danish Presidency, and the priorities of the presidency included climate change and volunteerism. DEMA hosted a module of the Baltic Excellence Programme (BEP) in Civil Security at its training facility in Tinglev on 18-20 November 2019. 17 participants from 8 countries took part in the course, moderated by the Head of DEMA Division for Municipalities and Citizens, Henrik G. Petersen. The course was densely packed with theory, practice and study visits, all planned to explore different aspects of crisis management in connection with climate change adaptation and engagement with civil society.

EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Policy Area Secure Monitoring and Evaluation Report

The CBSS Secretariat commissioned the report  “An Evaluation of the Development and Effectiveness of Policy Area Secure 2013-2019”, in order to assess the overall achievements throughout the entire PA Secure 2013 – 2020 period, and to work out the premise for formulating recommendations for the operation of this policy area in the coming years. The report identified current challenges in the work of PA Secure as well as opportunities for its development.

18th Meeting of the Directors General for Civil Protection in the Baltic Sea Region

On 8 June 2020, the Danish chairmanship of the CBSS Civil Protection Network hosted the 18th Meeting of the Directors General for Civil Protection in the Baltic Sea Region. This meeting concluded the yearlong Danish chairmanship, which was dedicated to climate change, resilience as well as cooperation with civil society. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directors General met virtually. The meeting was opened by the acting Director General of the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), Flemming Klokager. The discussion focused the role of national civil protection agencies in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as project work and developments in the field of civil security in the Baltic Sea Region.

Baltic Sea Task Force on Organised Crime – annual strategic meeting

In October 2019, the annual strategic meeting of the Baltic Sea Task Force on Organised Crime was organised in Berlin. The meeting was hosted by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community of Germany under the patronage of Parliamentary State Secretary Prof Dr Günter Krings. The CBSS was represented at the meeting by Mr. Simon Stermann, German representative in the CBSS Committee of Senior Officials. Mr. Stermann provided the Task Force members with an update on current priorities within the CBSS and on the progress of the reforms of the organisation, led by the Danish Presidency. First steps were taken to align closer the work of the Task Force with that of the CBSS.