Activities and Events

The CBSS engages in manyfold ways with young people, the Regional Identity unit focuses on the dialogue between decision makers and young people, while almost all CBSS units include young people in projects and other activities:  

  • Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum Election Meeting
    Once per year all members of the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF) are invited to join an online Election Meeting.
    Strategic decisions regarding the BSRYF and its guiding documents, as well as the election of the Committee of Youth Representative and Steering Group members are on the agenda.
  • Baltic Sea Youth Working Groups
    Working Groups are established based on decisions made by the members of the Committee of Youth Representatives.
    BSRYF members are invited to suggest topics for a working group.
  • Baltic Sea Youth Platform (BSYP)
    The Baltic Sea Youth Platform was an Erasmus+ project led by the CBSS bringing together local, regional and national actors to enhance the coordination of youth mechanisms in the Baltic Sea Region.  
  • CBSS Youth Ministerial: The CBSS Youth Ministerial is co-organised by the CBSS Secretariat and the presidency to elevate youth voices to the CBSS ministerial meeting.
  • Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue (BSYD) The Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue is a one-week in-depth seminar bringing together young and established experts on a specific and timely topic relevant to macro-regional cooperation.
  • Baltic Sea Youth Camp (BSYC): The Baltic Sea Youth Camp is organised as a prelude to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Annual Forum. Various youth formats are cooperating to update the Baltic Sea Youth Declaration presented to all stakeholders of the EUSBSR.
  • Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum (BSPYF): The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum was created to enable young people from the Baltic Sea Region to participate actively in the Annual Conference of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) and share their views in a common policy recommendation paper.
  • Child and Youth Advisory Board on child trafficking (CYAB – TRM): The Child and Youth Advisory Board on child trafficking was established to support the implementation of the BSR Transnational referral mechanisms for victims of trafficking and bring in a youth perspective. 
  • Baltic Sea Region Hackathon: The Baltic Sea Region Hackathon brings together young programmers interested in strengthening the BSR democracies and supporting them with digital solutions.
    • Include BSR Hakckathon report and presentations

Activities of the Regional Identity unit also include guidance for stakeholders of the EUSBSR on meaningful youth participation and connecting Baltic Sea Region youth activities with ongoing national and EU processes.

EUSBSR youth input  

The CBSS coordinates the youth representation horizontally among the Policy Areas of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Resources for both decision makers and young people are provided to build capacities among the relevant stakeholder groups.  

The Baltic Sea Youth Declaration was updated annually starting in 2019 and provides the views of young people on the priorities the policy makers should take into consideration when implementing the EUSBSR.  

With the support of Policy Area Culture, the CBSS coordinates the BSY Working Group Culture and in collaboration with Policy Area Secure the CBSS coordinates the BSY Working Group Security. Other Policy Areas are supported by providing youth speakers, inviting young people to events and participating in project events.  

Related documents:  

Collaboration with the European Commission  

The CBSS cooperates closely with the European Commission to ensure the macro-regional youth activities are in line with activities on the European level. The EU is an official member of the CBSS and hence alignment of processes and utilizing synergies is key to strengthen youth participation.

The CBSS participates in regular meetings with DG REGIO to exchange knowledge with youth structures in other EU macro-regions. The CBSS also took on the role of representing the EUSBSR youth structures and participates in events related to the implementation of funding mechanisms.  

Related documents: 

Collaboration with CBSS sister councils   

The CBSS is liaising with the youth structures of all four councils of the north. Through the regular exchange, approximately 4 times a year the CBSS and its sister councils ensure that synergies are utilised and resources are efficiently used while avoiding duplications between the formats. Check out the youth initiatives of the four councils of the north: Arctic Council, Barents Euro Arctic Council, Nordic Council of Ministers.